Cory Sandhagen is driven to realize his long-held ambition of being a world champion. Known for being close but never quite there, he delivered one of his finest performances, overpowering former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo during the main event of UFC Fight Night. This victory was a vital step towards securing a title shot.
“I’ve dreamed of being a world champion for more than half my life now,” Sandhagen stated after achieving a second-round TKO victory in Des Moines, Iowa. “UFC, please, give me an opportunity to show how great I am to the whole world. Please.”
“He wants the belt next 馃弳 @CorySandhagenX is looking at the winner of the #UFC316 main event for his next fight 馃憖 #UFCDesMoines pic.twitter.com/X57NofEK3V
Sandhagen executed his strategy flawlessly against Figueiredo, thwarting his attempts at leg locks and delivering a barrage of strikes. He arguably secured a 10-8 score in the first round. In the second round, while both fighters grappled for position, Sandhagen managed to reverse roles, leading to Figueiredo’s submission amidst a cry of pain. The referee then declared the match a TKO win for Sandhagen due to injury.
With this win, Sandhagen (18-5) aims to rebound from his past four UFC losses, where each opponent eventually contended for the bantamweight title. This substantial victory comes after his defeat to Umar Nurmagomedov, the last challenger for the title held by Merab Dvalishvili.
“Nothing fires you up like a loss. I have a really good team behind me,” Sandhagen remarked. “We work our butts off. I’m going to be a champion one day.” “I’m ready to win that belt. Sean O’Malley or Merab, I want the winner. I’ll be the backup if they want.”
As Sandhagen pushes forward in his quest for the bantamweight championship, Figueiredo (24-5-1) is left to heal and reevaluate his path. After beginning his stint in the 135-pound division with three consecutive victories, he faces the reality of two back-to-back losses and an injury.
