Cory Sandhagen lands a kick to the body of Marlon Moraes in the main event of UFC Fight Island 5.
Matchmaker Monday following UFC Fight Island 5
UFC Fight Island 5 was night filled with impressive knockouts. One of those knockouts came in the main event between Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Moraes.
Sandhagen rebounded from his first UFC loss by stopping Moraes with a spinning heel hook in the second round.
With the win, Sandhagen wants either Frankie Edgar or T.J. Dillashaw. As for Moraes, it’s back to the drawing board as his hopes of leapfrogging Aljamain Sterling for a title fight are over.
Let’s fight out what’s next for the men involved in the main event on this Matchmaker Monday.
Cory Sandhagen
Result: defeated Marlon Moraes by second-round TKO at UFC Fight Island 5
Next: Frankie Edgar
Sandhagen wants a former champion. He specifically called for Edgar or Dillashaw in his post-fight press conference. He’s going to draw Edgar and here’s why.
Edgar wants a title fight at 135 pounds. He’s in contention after beating Pedro Munhoz a few months ago. Sandhagen also wants a title fight and he’s also in contention. Let’s welcome a title elimination fight between the two men with the winner facing the winner of Petr Yan and Sterling.
Dillashaw also wants to get his title back, but I just have a feeling he’s going to return in a bad blood fight against Uriah Faber.
Marlon Moraes
Result: lost to Cory Sandhagen by second-round TKO at UFC Fight Island 5
Next: rematch with Jimmie Rivera
Well this is a hard one to breakdown when you look at the rankings.
At first I thought Cody Garbrandt, but he’s injured and he still might want to drop down and fight for the flyweight title. Edgar I’m booking with Sandhagen. Munhoz and Moraes are teammates. Moraes and Aldo just fought not too long ago.
That takes you down to Rivera who Moraes beat in a main event back in 2018. I personally wouldn’t mind seeing those two square off again. Rivera is 2-3 in his past five fights, but he’s always fighting the best guys.
One sleeper in though is Dominick Cruz. I know Cruz would love another title fight and a win over Moraes would bring him right into title contention.
