Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov matchup will decide the next title contender in the bantamweight division. Either of them facing off against Sean O’Malley remains in high demand. It is not the end of the road for Nurmagomedov if he loses. He’s young and can make another title run. However, many might believe it’s the end of the road for Sandhagen to ever compete for the title again.
Sandhagen’s career has been tricky. He was on a five-fight winning streak before facing Aljamain Sterling at UFC 250. One more victory could have pushed him to a title shot. The win certainly did for Sterling. However, Sandhagen lost and didn’t fight for the title. Soon, he fought TJ Dillashaw on a two-fight win streak. He lost a close split decision against the former champion. Nevertheless, it was not the end.
Once Dillashaw and Sterling got injured in 2021, Sandhagen received the opportunity to fight for the interim title against Petr Yan on six-week notice. Sandhagen did well in the first two rounds but could not keep the pace up against Yan. The Russian fighter dominated the last three rounds and cruised to a unanimous decision win. Now, on a two-fight losing streak, things were not looking good.
Next, he faced rising contender Song Yadong and won via doctor stoppage in a closely contested bout. He rode the momentum and dominated Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera and Rob Font over five rounds. It has set up the path for his main event bout against Umar Nurmagomedov. The Dagestani fighter has opened up as a heavy favorite. In the scenario that Sandhagen cannot overcome the odds, it is not the end.
Here is how Cory Sandhagen can get the title shot even if he loses to Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC on ABC 7.
Dustin Poirier – Colby Covington method can help Cory Sandhagen
This is not just the case of Dustin Poirier or Colby Covington. Many other examples may have existed before. However, Poirier and Colby remain the recent example. Colby Covington lost his title opportunity at UFC 245. Soon, he rebounded against Tyron Woodley in a five-round domination and secured a title shot again.
The same is the case with Dustin Poirier. He lost the BMF title bout against Justin Gaethje. Poirier rebounded against Benoit Saint-Denis and fought for the title. Yes, the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan didn’t have enough time to rebound from UFC 300 to UFC 302. Nevertheless, Poirier got the shot.
Dustin Poirier and Colby Covington method to attain title shot (Image via Instagram)In the case of Poirier and Covington, they were at the right place at the right time. Plus, they both possessed value. Poirier has an exciting fighting style, whereas Covington brought chaos with his trash-talk and can promote the fight really well. It was a win-win for the fighter and the UFC.
Sandhagen might not have as many knockouts as Poirier or ruthless trash-talks like Covington. However, he is a star in the bantamweight division. Name the top stars (popularity is the metric) in the bantamweight division. Sean O’Malley is number one, but there is no particular order for who comes next. As such, it is easily arguable that Sandhagen can be in the top 5 in terms of star value.
How many bantamweights can stop Cory Sandhagen?
Apart from O’Malley, Merab Dvalishvili, Petr Yan, and Umar Nurmagomedov, does anyone think the rest of the bantamweight division can defeat Sandhagen? He has already defeated Yadong, Vera, and Font. Deiveson Figueiredo and Jose Aldo might pose some threats. They are not unbeatable opponents for the ‘Sandman.’
Cory Sandhagen can defeat other bantamweights for a title shot (Image via Imago/MMA Fighting)Henry Cejudo might be out of his prime. Kyler Phillips, Mario Bautista, Dominick Cruz, and Jonathan Martinez might not be at the same level as Sandhagen at this point. As such, all he has to do is defeat two opponents to climb back to the top. If the American bantamweight can avenge his loss against Petr Yan, nothing will scream title shot more than that.
If not, a dream fight against legend Jose Aldo can further elevate Sandhagen’s star status. A win or two could put Sandhagen back in the mix, just like it worked for Colby Covington and Dustin Poirier. As such, all Sandhagen has to do is get back in the win column and wisely choose his next opponent.
The Sean O’Malley effect
‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley is undeniably the most popular bantamweight on the planet. Fans and fighters have called for an O’Malley vs. Sandhagen matchup for years. It will provide the fanbase with an electric, high-level striking contest. It is a big fight in the bantamweight division. Yes, O’Malley vs. Umar could yield a similar impact to Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Sandman vs. Suga is a dream fight (Image via Instagram)The Irish vs. Dagestan angle could sell a lot of tickets. The same could happen for an exciting striking battle between O’Malley and Sandhagen. The UFC is a business that wants stars to compete for the title. As such, the prime example is when Arman Tsarukyan couldn’t turn up to UFC 302, the promotion called a star in Dustin Poirier to replace him.
As such, if there ever is a scenario where the champion is Sean O’Malley, and there is a lack of a clear contender, Cory Sandhagen can always swoop in to claim his title shot. What happens next is anybody’s guess. However, barring a career-altering injury or fall from prime, the Sandman can always get a title fight in the future.
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