Cory Sandhagen

American mixed martial artist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cory Sandhagen

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.[8]

Quick Facts Born, Other names ...
Cory Sandhagen
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Sandhagen in 2019
BornCory James Sandhagen[1]
(1992-04-20) April 20, 1992 (age 33)
Aurora, Colorado, U.S.
Other namesThe Sandman
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb)
DivisionBantamweight (2015, 2018–present)
Featherweight (2016–2018)
Reach69+12 in (177 cm)[2]
StyleKickboxing[3]
Fighting out ofAurora, Colorado, U.S.
TeamHigh Altitude Martial Arts (2010–present)[4]
Elevation Fight Team (2017–2024)[5]
Forge Fight Club (2024–present)[6]
RankBrown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Eliot Marshall[7]
Years active2015–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total22
Wins17
By knockout7
By submission3
By decision7
Losses5
By submission1
By decision4
Other information
UniversityUniversity of Colorado Boulder[4]
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
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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.[9] Sandhagen began martial arts training as a child, starting with taekwondo. His instructors didn't allow punches, so Sandhagen switched to boxing. 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.[10][11]

Sandhagen graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in psychology.[4][9]

Mixed martial arts career

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Perspective

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.[12] His next fight was on October 17, 2017, against Luiz Antonio Lobo Gavinho at LFA 24, which he won via first round TKO.[13] Sandhagen's final appearance for Legacy Fighting Alliance came on January 19, 2018, at LFA 31, defeating Jose Aguayo via first round TKO.[14]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

2018

Sandhagen made his promotional debut at UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2 on January 27, 2018, against Austin Arnett.[15] He won the fight via second-round TKO.[16]

His next bout was at UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick on August 25, 2018 Iuri Alcantara.[17] After a back-and-forth affair, he won the fight via second-round TKO.[18] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[19]

2019

Sandhagen was scheduled to face Thomas Almeida at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw.[20] However, it was later announced that Sandhagen would face John Lineker at the event instead.[21] On January 10, Lineker was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a rib injury.[22] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Mario Bautista.[23] He won the bout via first round submission.[24]

The bout with Lineker was rescheduled and eventually took place on April 27, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson.[25] Sandhagen won the fight via split decision.[26]

Sandhagen faced Raphael Assunção on August 17, 2019, at UFC 241.[27] He won the bout by unanimous decision.[28]

2020

Sandhagen was scheduled to face Frankie Edgar in a bantamweight bout on January 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 166.[29] However, Edgar was removed from the fight in favor of a bout against Chan Sung Jung a month earlier at UFC Fight Night 165.[30] In turn, Sandhagen was removed from the card.[31]

Sandhagen faced Aljamain Sterling on June 6, 2020, at UFC 250[32] in a bout that UFC president Dana White confirmed to be a bantamweight title eliminator.[33] He lost the bout via submission in the first round.[34]

Sandhagen faced Marlon Moraes on October 11, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 179 in the main event.[35] Sandhagen won the fight via technical knockout in round two.[36] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[37]

2021

Sandhagen faced Frankie Edgar at UFC Fight Night 184 on February 6, 2021.[38] He won the fight via knockout by flying knee in the first round.[39] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[40]

Sandhagen was scheduled to face T.J. Dillashaw on May 8, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 24.[41] 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.[42][43] The pairing remained intact and was rescheduled to headline UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw on July 24, 2021.[44] He lost a close fight via split decision.[45] 17 out of 23 media outlets scored the bout as a win for Sandhagen.[46]

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.[47] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[48] This bout earned the Fight of the Night award.[49]

2022

Sandhagen faced Song Yadong on September 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 210.[50] He won the fight via technical knockout after the doctor stopped the fight due to a cut.[51]

2023

Sandhagen was scheduled to face Marlon Vera on February 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 219.[52] However, the bout was rebooked for UFC on ESPN 43 on March 25.[53] Sandhagen won the fight via split decision.[54] Though one judge scored the bout for Vera, 24 out of 24 media outlets scored the bout for Sandhagen.[55]

Sandhagen was scheduled to face Umar Nurmagomedov on August 5, 2023 at UFC on ESPN 50 in Nashville, Tennessee.[56] However, Nurmagomedov withdrew from the event mid-July due to shoulder injury,[57] and was replaced by Rob Font in a catchweight bout of 140 pounds.[58] Sandhagen won the fight via unanimous decision despite tearing his right triceps during the first round.[59]

2024

Sandhagen faced Umar Nurmagomedov on August 3, 2024, at UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov in a bantamweight title eliminator.[60][61] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[62]

2025

Sandhagen is scheduled to face former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event on May 3, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 67.[63]

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.[64]

Sandhagen and his wife Erica got married in September 2023.[65]

Championships and achievements

Mixed martial arts record

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Perspective
Professional record breakdown
22 matches 17 wins 5 losses
By knockout 7 0
By submission 3 1
By decision 7 4
More information Res., Record ...
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 17–5 Umar Nurmagomedov Decision (unanimous) UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov August 3, 2024 5 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates UFC Bantamweight title eliminator.
Win 17–4 Rob Font Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Font August 5, 2023 5 5:00 Nashville, Tennessee, United States Catchweight (140 lb) bout.
Win 16–4 Marlon Vera Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen March 25, 2023 5 5:00 San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win 15–4 Song Yadong TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song September 17, 2022 4 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 14–4 Petr Yan Decision (unanimous) UFC 267 October 30, 2021 5 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates For the interim UFC Bantamweight Championship. Fight of the Night.
Loss 14–3 T.J. Dillashaw Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw July 24, 2021 5 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 14–2 Frankie Edgar KO (flying knee) UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov February 6, 2021 1 0:28 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 13–2 Marlon Moraes TKO (spinning wheel kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen October 10, 2020 2 1:03 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Performance of the Night.
Loss 12–2 Aljamain Sterling Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 250 June 6, 2020 1 1:28 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States UFC Bantamweight title eliminator.
Win 12–1 Raphael Assunção Decision (unanimous) UFC 241 August 17, 2019 3 5:00 Anaheim, California, United States
Win 11–1 John Lineker Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson April 27, 2019 3 5:00 Sunrise, Florida, United States
Win 10–1 Mario Bautista Submission (armbar) UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw January 19, 2019 1 3:31 Brooklyn, New York, United States
Win 9–1 Iuri Alcântara TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick August 25, 2018 2 1:01 Lincoln, Nebraska, United States Return to Bantamweight. Fight of the Night.
Win 8–1 Austin Arnett TKO (punches) UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2 January 27, 2018 2 3:48 Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Win 7–1 José Aguayo TKO (knee and elbows) LFA 31 January 19, 2018 1 1:07 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win 6–1 Luiz Antônio Lobo Gavinho TKO (punches) LFA 24 October 13, 2017 1 3:00 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Loss 5–1 Jamall Emmers Decision (unanimous) LFA 5 February 24, 2017 3 5:00 Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Win 5–0 Clay Wimer Decision (unanimous) RFA 43 September 9, 2016 3 5:00 Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Win 4–0 Josh Huber Decision (unanimous) Sparta Combat League 50 July 16, 2016 3 5:00 Castle Rock, Colorado, United States Won the SCL Featherweight Championship.
Win 3–0 Dalton Goddard Submission (triangle choke) Paramount MMA 2016 May 15, 2016 1 3:38 Denver, Colorado, United States
Win 2–0 Andrew Tenneson Decision (unanimous) RFA 34 January 15, 2016 3 5:00 Broomfield, Colorado, United States Featherweight debut.
Win 1–0 Bruce Sessman Submission (rear-naked choke) FTW: Prize Fighting Championship 9 May 30, 2015 1 1:16 Williston, North Dakota, United States Bantamweight debut.
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[76]

See also

References

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