Cory Sandhagen has been a consistent presence in the UFC bantamweight division and has frequently appeared in the pound-for-pound rankings. Regarded as one of the top strikers in the company, he has been on the cusp of title contention for some time.
Sandhagen’s latest victory was a dominant performance against former title challenger Marlon Vera. Despite being considered a rightful contender for a title shot, he has repeatedly expressed his desire to face rising contender Umar Nurmagomedov instead, a decision that has been questioned by critics.
Cory Sandhagen wants five rounds vs Umar Nurmagomedov
A fight between Sandhagen and Nurmagomedov may not have made sense to many fans initially, but it still generated significant hype. They were scheduled to face each other in August of last year, but the bout fell through due to an injury suffered by Nurmagomedov.
However, with Sandhagen’s recent victory and his continued desire to fight the Dagestani, it appears that they will finally meet in the near future. Cory recently issued a callout to Umar amid all the speculation, proposing a bout during International Fight Week in June. He also expressed his preference for the fight to be scheduled for five rounds rather than the standard three.
UFC's Cory Sandhagen wants five-round fight with Umar Nurmagomedov – preferably not in Middle East https://t.co/3WCemsrevS
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 21, 2024
Although fans are confused as to why Sandhagen is volunteering to fight Nurmagomedov, he made it clear that he would only partake in the fight if it guarantees him a title shot. He said, “If I win the next one against Umar, there’s absolutely no argument that I feel like I shouldn’t be fighting for the belt next.”
Umar Nurmagomedov discusses Cory Sandhagen fight
Umar Nurmagomedov has began his journey in the UFC with massive expectations vested on him from the get-go, most likely for being the cousin of the great Khabib Nurmagomedov. Umar has remained undefeated so far and it is undeniable that he deserves to share the octagon with the very best the company has to offer.
When asked about the Cory Sandhagen fight, Umar gave the bantamweight veteran the props he deserves. He stated, “For me, I think one of the hardest fights in my division is Cory. Nobody fights like Cory. He is talented, he have very good technique and I like this. It’s a big challenge for me.”
The much anticipated bout between Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov will either result in the veteran finally getting closer to the championship than he’s ever been, or propel Nurmagomedov to the top in an incredibly short timespan.
