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Cory Sandhagen
American mixed martial artist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Cory James Sandhagen (born April 20, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2015, Sandhagen also competed for Legacy Fighting Alliance. As of August 6, 2024, he is #4 in the UFC bantamweight rankings.[7]
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Background
Born and raised in Aurora, Colorado, Sandhagen attended Smoky Hill High School where he was on the basketball team – a sport he had been playing from his youth.[8] Sandhagen began martial arts training as a child, starting with taekwondo. His instructors didn't allow punches, so Sandhagen switched to kickboxing. In kickboxing, Sandhagen won multiple WKA titles including a WKA world title. He then transitioned to mixed martial arts. He had been a fan of the sport since his childhood.[9][10]
Sandhagen graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in psychology.[3][8]
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Mixed martial arts career
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Early career
Sandhagen made his Legacy Fighting Alliance debut on February 24, 2017, at LFA 5 against Jamall Emmers, losing the bout via unanimous decision.[11] His next fight was on October 17, 2017, against Luiz Antonio Lobo Gavinho at LFA 24, which he won via first round TKO.[12] Sandhagen's final appearance for Legacy Fighting Alliance came on January 19, 2018, at LFA 31, defeating Jose Aguayo via first round TKO.[13]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
2018
Sandhagen made his promotional debut at UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2 on January 27, 2018, against Austin Arnett.[14] He won the fight via second-round TKO.[15]
His next bout was at UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick on August 25, 2018 Iuri Alcantara.[16] After a back-and-forth affair, he won the fight via second-round TKO.[17] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[18]
2019
Sandhagen was scheduled to face Thomas Almeida at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw.[19] However, it was later announced that Sandhagen would face John Lineker at the event instead.[20] On January 10, Lineker was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a rib injury.[21] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Mario Bautista.[22] He won the bout via first round submission.[23]
The bout with Lineker was rescheduled and eventually took place on April 27, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson.[24] Sandhagen won the fight via split decision.[25]
Sandhagen faced Raphael Assunção on August 17, 2019, at UFC 241.[26] He won the bout by unanimous decision.[27]
2020
Sandhagen was scheduled to face Frankie Edgar in a bantamweight bout on January 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 166.[28] However, Edgar was removed from the fight in favor of a bout against Chan Sung Jung a month earlier at UFC Fight Night 165.[29] In turn, Sandhagen was removed from the card.[30]
Sandhagen faced Aljamain Sterling on June 6, 2020, at UFC 250[31] in a bout that UFC president Dana White confirmed to be a bantamweight title eliminator.[32] He lost the bout via submission in the first round.[33]
Sandhagen faced Marlon Moraes on October 11, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 179 in the main event.[34] Sandhagen won the fight via technical knockout in round two.[35] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[36]
2021
Sandhagen faced Frankie Edgar at UFC Fight Night 184 on February 6, 2021.[37] He won the fight via knockout by flying knee in the first round.[38] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[39]
Sandhagen was scheduled to face T.J. Dillashaw on May 8, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 24.[40] However, Dillashaw announced on April 27 that he had to pull out of the fight due to a cut he received from a headbutt in training.[41][42] The pairing remained intact and was rescheduled to headline UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw on July 24, 2021.[43] He lost a close fight via split decision.[44] 17 out of 23 media outlets scored the bout as a win for Sandhagen.[45]
Sandhagen faced Petr Yan for the Interim UFC Bantamweight Championship at UFC 267 on October 30, 2021. Sandhagen served as a late replacement for Aljamain Sterling, who was forced to withdraw from the bout with Yan due to a neck injury.[46] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[47] This bout earned the Fight of the Night award.[48]
2022
Sandhagen faced Song Yadong on September 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 210.[49] He won the fight via technical knockout after the doctor stopped the fight due to a cut.[50]
2023
Sandhagen was scheduled to face Marlon Vera on February 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 219.[51] However, the bout was rebooked for UFC on ESPN 43 on March 25.[52] Sandhagen won the fight via split decision.[53] Though one judge scored the bout for Vera, 24 out of 24 media outlets scored the bout for Sandhagen.[54]
Sandhagen was scheduled to face Umar Nurmagomedov on August 5, 2023 at UFC on ESPN 50 in Nashville, Tennessee.[55] However, Nurmagomedov withdrew from the event mid-July due to shoulder injury,[56] and was replaced by Rob Font in a catchweight bout of 140 pounds.[57] Sandhagen won the fight via unanimous decision despite tearing his right triceps during the first round.[58]
2024
Sandhagen faced Umar Nurmagomedov on August 3, 2024, at UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov in a bantamweight title eliminator.[59][60] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[61]
2025
Sandhagen faced former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event on May 3, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 67.[62] He won the fight by technical knockout in the second round after Figueiredo suffered a knee injury.[63] This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.[64]
Sandhagen is scheduled to compete for the UFC Bantamweight Championship against current champion Merab Dvalishvili on October 4, 2025 at UFC 320.[65]
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Personal life
Apart from his mixed martial arts career, Sandhagen worked part-time at a trauma center for children. He teaches mixed martial arts at High Altitude Martial Arts in Aurora, Colorado.[66]
Sandhagen and his wife Erica got married in September 2023.[67]
Championships and achievements
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (Two times) vs. Iuri Alcantara and Petr Yan[18][48]
- Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Marlon Moraes, Frankie Edgar and Deiveson Figueiredo[36][39][64]
- Second fastest flying-knee finish in UFC history (0:28) vs. Frankie Edgar[68]
- UFC Honors Awards
- UFC.com Awards
- Sparta Combat League
- SCL Featherweight Championship (one time; former)
- MMAjunkie.com
- 2021 February Knockout of the Month vs. Frankie Edgar [74]
- 2021 July Fight of the Month vs. TJ Dillashaw[75]
- Cageside Press
- 2021 Knockout of the Year vs. Frankie Edgar[76]
- Combat Press
- 2021 Knockout of the Year vs. Frankie Edgar[77]
- Bleacher Report
- 2019 Submission of the Year vs. Mario Bautista at UFC Fight Night 143[78]
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Mixed martial arts record
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| 23 matches | 18 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 0 |
| By submission | 3 | 1 |
| By decision | 7 | 4 |
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See also
References
External links
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