Cory Sandhagen vs. Rob Font Preview

With a late change in opponents, Cory Sandhagen is still out to keep his win streak alive. After Umar Nurmagomedov pulled out of the fight due to an injury, Sandhagen is now set to face off against Rob Font in a completely different stylistic matchup. Regardless, the main event of UFC Nashville looks to produce fireworks as two of the divisions more seasoned fighters square off.

UFC Nashville: Cory Sandhagen and His Path To The Title

Ranked 5th in the bantamweight division, Cory Sandhagen may be the most deserving person not granted a title shot in the bantamweight division right now. His loss to Aljamain Sterling in 2020 seems like a lifetime ago and since then, Sandhagen has competed with the best.

After that fight, Sandhagen produced two electrifying knockouts against Marlon Moraes, a spinning wheel kick, and former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar via flying knee.

Sandhagen fell on tougher times as he lost a split decision to former champ, TJ Dillashaw for the interim title in Dillashaw’s return after a two-year USADA suspension. He then got a second chance at the interim title when he faced Petr Yan, another decision loss for Sandhagen.

After that Yan fight, Sandhagen has looked fantastic. Against Yadong Song, Sandhagen managed to cut up the heavy handed Korean earning a doctor’s stoppage at the end of round 4. His next bout was against Marlon “Chito” Vera, which was a one sided affair. A judge was on crack that night and gave Marlon the fight on a scorecard and made that fight a split decision.

Now Sandhagen looks to box out another contender and win his way back to a chance at the title. But Rob Font is not an easy out for any fighter.

Rob Font: Steady and Consistent

Rob Font is about as consistent as it gets. He’s beat names like Ricky Simon and lost to names like Pedro Munhoz. But the seventh ranked bantamweight. Has been on a rollercoaster of ups and downs since the turn of the decade.

After his win over Simon in 2019, Rob Font managed to beat Marlon Moraes in a first-round knockout in 2020. He then took on former champion Cody Garbrandt and put on a one-sided performance that saw Garbrandt battered up.

That was when he ran into Jose Aldo and Chito Vera. Both of which beat Font in completely different, but systematic ways. Font was counted out and fed to the newcomer, Adrian Yanez, and looked to be a sacrificial lamb for the newcomer. But that fight saw Yanez blasted with uppercuts and finished by Rob Font in round 1.

The fight between Cory Sandhagen and Rob Font marks a “will fight anyone” attitude for both Font and Sandhagen. The winner will be one step closer to the title, the loser will go home wondering “what if?”