Cory Sandhagen showcased his MMA prowess with a dominating performance against Rob Font at UFC Nashville Fight Night. Despite Dana White briefly leaving the arena during his fight, Cory confirmed there’s no tension between them.
Following his remarkable win, Sandhagen immediately voiced his desire for a title opportunity in his upcoming bout. The bantamweight title is currently held by Aljamain Sterling, who is set to defend his gold strap against Sean O’Malley at UFC 292.
Sandhagen eyes title shot after UFC Nashville triumphs
On the eve of Fight Night, Sandhagen openly expressed his discontent with O’Malley, the next title challenger in the bantamweight division. The Sandman believes his recent victories should earn him a shot at the winner of the O’Malley-Sterling bout.
The 31-year-old fighter also emphasizes that true champions should seek out the best opponents. After his win in Nashville, Sandhagen issued a warning to both Sterling and Sean by saying, “You can’t really make too much of an argument that I don’t deserve the title shot next.”
In his last three bouts, Cory defeated notable fighters like Song Yadong, Marlon Vera, and Rob, solidifying his candidacy for the title fight.
Cory Sandhagen predicts Sterling vs O’Malley #UFCNashville pic.twitter.com/YVZtMEdROE
— • 𝒮𝓀𝓎𝓁𝑜(50 DAYS UNTIL CHARLES FINISHES ISLAM) (@YT_SKYLO1) August 2, 2023
Dana White’s exit during Sandhagen’s victory raises questions
At the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, a heated clash unfolded between the 4th and 7th-ranked fighters in the bantamweight division. Cory demonstrated his authority, asserting control throughout the match from start to finish against Rob Font.
Cory Sandhagen is unbothered by backlash to his dominant win over Rob Font. 🤼
Full story: https://t.co/anzmTTT09U pic.twitter.com/53uO3jfP4J
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) August 7, 2023
While his fight was ongoing, Dana White was seen leaving the arena, sparking inquiries about Cory’s performance. Nonetheless, in a conversation on the MMA Hour, the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu brown belt disclosed that he later discussed the matter with Dana. The UFC president expressed no concerns about his performance.
“He was real cool with it. He was fine with it. He just told me to heal up and he was really nice about it. There was just no weirdness [from White],” Cory said.
Cory Sandhagen says on The MMA Hour that he will be out for a minimum of 6 months and is getting surgery on Thursday after his injury at #UFCNashville pic.twitter.com/hCXaV7UN0S
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) August 7, 2023
The Sandman achieved a decisive victory through unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45), extending his winning streak to three consecutive triumphs in his UFC career. However, unfortunately after tearing his tricep in the first round, he’s now sidelined for six months.
Do you think Cory Sandhagen has earned a title? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
