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 competitor since 2015, Sandhagen has also competed for Legacy Fighting Alliance. As of August 6, 2024, he is #4 in the UFC bantamweight rankings.[7]

Cory Sandhagen
Sandhagen in 2019
BornCory James Sandhagen [1]
(1992-04-20) April 20, 1992 (age 32)
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]
Fighting out ofAurora, Colorado, U.S.
TeamHigh Altitude Martial Arts (2010–present)[3]
Elevation Fight Team (2017–2024)[4][5]
Forge Fight Club (2024–present)[5]
RankBrown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Eliot Marshall[6]
Years active2015–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total22
Wins17
By knockout7
By submission3
By decision7
Losses5
By submission1
By decision4
UniversityUniversity of Colorado Boulder[3]
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

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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 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.[9][10]

Sandhagen graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in psychology.[3][8]

Mixed martial arts career

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Early career

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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

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2018

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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]

Personal life

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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.[62]

Sandhagen and his wife Erica got married in September 2023.[63]

Championships and achievements

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
22 matches 17 wins 5 losses
By knockout 7 0
By submission 3 1
By decision 7 4
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.

[69]

See also

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References

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  3. ^ a b c Zac Pacleb (October 9, 2020). "Inside The Mind Of Cory Sandhagen". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  4. ^ Chris Huntemann (January 17, 2018). "LFA 31's Cory Sandhagen: Getting Into the Zone". combatpress.com.
  5. ^ a b Sportskeeda MMA Originals (June 12, 2024). Cory Sandhagen says he can "definitely" finish Umar Nurmagomedov – via YouTube.
  6. ^ @enterthesandman135 (December 12, 2017). ""Brown belt last night (...)"". Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Instagram.
  7. ^ "UFC Rankings, Division Rankings, P4P rankings, UFC Champions | UFC.com". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
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  12. ^ "LFA 24 Results: Frincu vs. Millender". www.mmafighting.com. 13 October 2017.
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