Cory Sandhagen

Bautista attacked Sandhagen's lead leg and repeatedly pressured into takedowns, while Sandhagen stayed competitive with straight punches. All three judges scored the fight 29–28 for Bautista.

Key moments

• Bautista attacked Sandhagen's lead leg.
• He repeatedly converted pressure into takedown attempts and control.
• All three judges returned 29–28 scorecards for Bautista.

A bantamweight title challenge that became a grappling clinic: Dvalishvili scored a reported UFC-record number of takedowns and controlled all five rounds for a wide unanimous decision, halting Sandhagen's momentum.

Key moments

• Dvalishvili's relentless wrestling set a UFC takedown record.
• Sandhagen found no answer to the takedown pace.
• Swept the scorecards across five rounds.
• Sandhagen's second title-fight defeat.

Sandhagen was dominating — landing 31 significant strikes to two in the round — when a scramble left Figueiredo's knee unable to continue, ending the fight via TKO late in round two.

Key moments

• Out-landed Figueiredo 31-to-2 in the round.
• A scramble injured Figueiredo's left knee.
• Waved off at 4:08 of round two.
• A statement win in a headliner.

Sandhagen was out-pointed across 25 minutes in his main event; Umar Nurmagomedov controlled distance and grappling to take a clear decision, one judge scoring a 50-45 shutout.

Key moments

• Umar controlled range and grappling throughout.
• One judge turned in a 50-45 card.
• Sandhagen never found a sustained rhythm.
• The win earned Umar a title call-out.

A one-sided, wrestling-heavy decision in which Sandhagen swept all three cards 50-45, mixing in mat control to neutralise Font's boxing.

Key moments

• Swept all three cards 50-45.
• Heavy stretches of mat control.
• Neutralised Font's boxing.
• Extended his win streak to three.

Statistically dominant despite a split verdict — Sandhagen out-landed Vera by a wide margin and added takedowns, though one judge controversially scored it for Vera.

Key moments

• Out-landed Vera by a wide significant-strike margin.
• Added three takedowns.
• One judge controversially had Vera.
• Took the split decision in a five-round main event.

Returning from an 11-month layoff, Sandhagen opened a deep cut above Song Yadong's left eye with a lead elbow in round one and then managed range and takedown threats to neutralise Song's striking throughout. The ringside doctor halted the contest at the end of round four before the fifth could begin.

Key moments

• A lead elbow in round one opened a severe gash above Song's left eye.
• Sandhagen's constant takedown threat disarmed Song's normally dangerous punching attack.
• Two judges had the fight even after four rounds; one had Sandhagen up 3-1.
• Doctor stoppage at the end of round four ended what was a competitive headliner.

An interim bantamweight title fight created when Aljamain Sterling was medically cleared out of a rematch. Sandhagen pushed Yan early but a spinning backfist-to-left-hook combination dropped him in round three, and Yan's striking volume carried the final rounds for a 49-46 sweep on all three cards.

Key moments

• Interim title created when Sterling could not get medical clearance for a rematch.
• Yan landed a spinning backfist-to-left-hook combination that dropped Sandhagen in round three.
• All three judges scored it 49-46 for Yan.
• Described as a thriller before Yan's mid-fight takeover; Sandhagen's first bantamweight title opportunity.

A bloody, back-and-forth five-rounder that marked Dillashaw's return from a 30-month USADA-related suspension. Sandhagen opened a nasty cut between Dillashaw's eye and nose but could not finish; Dillashaw gutted it out and earned the split decision 48-47 on two cards.

Key moments

• Dillashaw's first fight back after a two-year suspension for EPO use.
• Sandhagen opened a significant cut between Dillashaw's eye and nose.
• Dillashaw torqued his left knee during a leglock attempt by Sandhagen but continued.
• Split decision 47-48, 48-47, 48-47 — Dillashaw won two of three cards.

One of the most spectacular knockouts in UFC bantamweight history: Edgar moved straight forward at the opening bell and Sandhagen leapt into the air, connecting a flying knee that stiffened the former UFC lightweight champion and sent him face-first to the canvas in 28 seconds.

Key moments

• Finish came at just 0:28 — the second-fastest flying-knee KO in UFC history behind Jorge Masvidal vs. Ben Askren.
• Edgar fell face-first, unconscious, after absorbing the knee flush.
• Widely regarded as a KO-of-the-year candidate for 2021.
• Cemented Sandhagen's reputation as one of the division's most dangerous strikers.

Sandhagen used his height and reach advantage to chop at Moraes's legs and body in round one before landing a spinning wheel kick that put Moraes down and prompted follow-up punches and a stoppage just over a minute into round two.

Key moments

• First round saw Sandhagen targeting the legs and body with kicks and working his fluid stance switches.
• The spinning wheel kick landed flush and sent Moraes to the canvas.
• Stoppage came at 1:03 of round two.
• A statement win in Abu Dhabi that elevated Sandhagen to bantamweight contender status.

Sterling came out aggressively, pressed Sandhagen to the fence, scored a fast takedown, and locked in a body triangle before sinking a rear-naked choke. Sandhagen tapped, but the hold was tight enough that he was unconscious before Sterling released it.

Key moments

• Sterling scored the takedown and body triangle in rapid succession.
• Rear-naked choke finished the fight at 1:28 of round one.
• Sandhagen was rendered unconscious before Sterling released the hold despite tapping.
• The loss was the first setback of Sandhagen's UFC tenure.

A televised preliminary card fight at UFC 241 in Anaheim in which Sandhagen remained unbeaten in the UFC by out-working the veteran Assunção over three rounds with body work, clinch pressure and active grappling. Scores were 30-27, 30-27, 29-28.

Key moments

• Sandhagen stayed undefeated in the UFC with a win over a respected veteran.
• Targeted the body throughout; Assunção pressed with his hands but could not sustain combinations.
• Sandhagen was caught in submission attempts in round two but escaped each time.
• Judges scored 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 — unanimous decision.

A hard-hitting three-round bantamweight banger at UFC Fort Lauderdale. Sandhagen's feinting, kicks, and movement earned him two of the three scorecards against the aggressive Lineker, though the close fight drew boos from the crowd and one judge sided with Lineker.

Key moments

• Sandhagen's footwork and feinting kept Lineker, known for his pressure, off balance.
• Both men exchanged heavy shots throughout; the crowd was vocal.
• Split decision: 29-28 twice for Sandhagen, 28-29 for Lineker.
• Sandhagen later said he was satisfied he had executed his game plan when he reviewed the tape.

Sandhagen submitted Bautista with an armbar in the first round of Bautista's UFC debut — Bautista had stepped in on short notice to replace the injured John Lineker. The finish at 3:31 extended Sandhagen's unbeaten UFC record to three fights.

Key moments

• Bautista stepped in on short notice to replace the injured John Lineker for his UFC debut.
• Sandhagen secured the armbar at 3:31 of round one.
• Extended his UFC record to 3-0 heading into 2019.
• The two would be booked for a rematch at UFC 329 in 2026.

A dramatic comeback finish in Lincoln, Nebraska: Alcantara nearly ended the bout in the opening moments with an armbar, but Sandhagen peeled his arm free, gained top position, and unloaded ground-and-pound. Alcantara survived the first but Sandhagen finished him with punches just over a minute into round two. The fight earned Fight of the Night honours.

Key moments

• Alcantara threatened with an armbar very early in round one that Sandhagen escaped.
• Sandhagen gained top control and began landing heavy ground-and-pound after the escape.
• TKO finished at 1:01 of round two.
• Awarded Fight of the Night bonus for the dramatic back-and-forth action.

Sandhagen's UFC debut in Charlotte, North Carolina. He worked the body effectively against Arnett across nearly two rounds before a TKO finish at 3:48 of round two announced him as a prospect worth watching at featherweight.

Key moments

• Sandhagen's promotional debut on the UFC on Fox platform.
• Consistent body work was the through-line of his attack.
• TKO finish at 3:48 of round two sealed an impressive debut.
• Fought at featherweight before eventually settling at bantamweight.

Sandhagen's final Legacy Fighting Alliance appearance before his UFC signing, a quick first-round finish of Aguayo with a knee and follow-up punches at 1:07. The short-notice bout kept him active before moving up to the UFC later that month.

Key moments

• Last fight before his UFC debut eight days later on January 27.
• Quick first-round TKO via knee and punches at 1:07.
• Part of an active stretch that included two fights in January 2018.
• Closed out his LFA tenure undefeated in that organisation (2-0).

A quick first-round TKO on the Legacy Fighting Alliance circuit, with Sandhagen stopping Gavinho (full name Luiz Antonio Lobo Gavinho) with punches at the three-minute mark. Part of his unbeaten run through regional promotions leading to the UFC.

Key moments

• First-round TKO at the 3:00 mark.
• One of two LFA appearances Sandhagen made before his UFC debut.
• Continued a finishing streak on the regional circuit.

Sandhagen's LFA debut and only professional defeat before the UFC. After starting 5-0 on the regional circuit he ran into Jamall Emmers in Broomfield, Colorado, and was out-worked over three rounds for a 29-28 sweep on all three scorecards.

Key moments

• Sandhagen's first professional loss after a 5-0 start.
• Emmers was described by Sandhagen as one of his toughest opponents at the time.
• All three judges scored 29-28 for Emmers — no controversy on the cards.
• Sandhagen later said the loss gave him the 'kick in the ass' he needed.

A featherweight clash of two unbeaten prospects — both entered 3-0 — at RFA 43 in Broomfield, Colorado, broadcast on AXS TV. Sandhagen earned a shutout unanimous decision over Wimer across three rounds.

Key moments

• Both fighters entered at 3-0, making it an unbeaten-prospect matchup.
• Sandhagen earned a shutout unanimous decision.
• Fought at featherweight (145 lbs) in this regional-circuit period.
• The card also featured a later-controversial split decision in a separate bout that drew commentary as a 'robbery.'

Sandhagen claimed the SCL Featherweight Championship with a unanimous decision over Josh Huber in the main event at Sparta Combat League 50. His fourth professional fight, the title win was a milestone on his regional-circuit rise.

Key moments

• Main-event title fight for the SCL Featherweight Championship.
• Unanimous decision victory across three rounds.
• Sandhagen's fourth professional fight.
• The belt added regional credibility ahead of his move to larger promotions.

A main-event featherweight bout in Denver in which Sandhagen submitted Goddard with a triangle choke at 3:38 of the first round, showcasing the grappling credentials that would complement his striking as he moved up the regional circuit.

Key moments

• Triangle choke finish at 3:38 of round one.
• Main event at featherweight (145 lbs) in Denver.
• Sandhagen's third professional victory.
• Demonstrated early grappling ability alongside his striking toolkit.

Sandhagen's second professional fight, at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 34 in Broomfield, Colorado. Tenneson threatened with submission attempts that Sandhagen escaped, and the judges scored it 30-27 across the board for a unanimous decision.

Key moments

• RFA 34 in Broomfield, Colorado — Sandhagen's second professional fight.
• Tenneson caught him in a couple of submission attempts that Sandhagen escaped.
• Judges scored 30-27 across all three cards.
• Sandhagen said afterwards he was proud of his standup and composure under submission pressure.

Sandhagen's professional MMA debut at Prize Fighting Championship 9: Bakken Brawlers in Williston, North Dakota. He submitted Sessman with a rear-naked choke at 1:16 of the first round, beginning an unbeaten run through the regional circuit.

Key moments

• Professional MMA debut at Prize FC 9 in Williston, North Dakota.
• Rear-naked choke finish at 1:16 of round one.
• First step in an unbeaten five-fight run on the regional circuit before his only pre-UFC loss.