Cory Sandhagen explains why he turned down short-notice fight with Pedro Munhoz
UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen explained why he turned down a short-notice fight with Pedro Munhoz for next weekend’s UFC card.
Sandhagen was set to take on former training partner TJ Dillashaw in the main event of the UFC Vegas 26 card on May 8, but the fight was postponed after Dillashaw had to withdraw due to suffering a cut during training camp. With Sandhagen left without an opponent for next weekend’s card, the UFC matchmakers called him up with Pedro Munhoz as a name. However, “The Sandman” decided that he would turn down Munhoz and instead wait until hopefully July for the Dillashaw re-booking.
Cory Sandhagen says he was offered Pedro Munhoz as a replacement next Saturday for #UFCVegas26 but opted instead to fight TJ Dillashaw in July
Full interview via @fanaticsview https://t.co/pmm0tjsB3L pic.twitter.com/JTlPtp1vgk
— James Lynch (@LynchOnSports) April 30, 2021
“Yeah, I think I only found out a day before you guys did. I found out on Monday. They just told me he was out because he had a cut. That was pretty much all that they told me. And then I was like ok, well I know June has a couple of main events open. Then they told me June doesn’t have a couple of main events open, so now we’re shooting for July,” Sandhagen told James Lynch of Fanatics View.
“They offered me Munhoz, but I’m just going to wait for Dillashaw to be honest with you. I think that’s a fair decision to make and it’s only a couple of months’ pushback, so no problem.”
As for why Sandhagen wants the Dillashaw fight next, it basically comes down to it being an exciting matchup pitting the former two-time UFC bantamweight champion in Dillashaw against one of the division’s current top contenders in Sandhagen.
“I think that it’s a really interesting fight. I think you have TJ the former champ against the guy who should unarguably be fighting for the title next now. That’s pretty exciting I think,” Sandhagen said.
Do you think Cory Sandhagen made the right call turning down Pedro Munhoz?
