The UFC’s bantamweight division has a stacked roster. As such, Sean Malley, the division’s champion, has many contenders. Merab Dvalishvili is the number one contender. Moreover, Cory Sandhagen and Jose Aldo are not far from fighting for the title. With that in mind, Sandhagen recently found a similarity between Aldo and Dvalishvili.
[Jose] Aldo very much has a style where he’s going to stare at you like a lion, and the second you make a movement at him, he’s going to try to fire back at you with, like, a 1000% stuff. And I know just having fought like a few guys like that, that can sometimes cause hesitation, and it can cause you to get a little bit away from your game plan. And my guess would be that that’s what happens when people fight Merab [Dvalishvili]. It’s the same thing that happens when a lot of people fight Aldo.
Cory Sandhagen via MMAJunkie
Sandhagen explained fighters know that if they are in a compromising position, Aldo and Dvalsihvili will take full advantage of it. As such, they are hesitant to pull the trigger. The number 2 bantamweight did reveal there are ways to counter the style. Sandhagen might have the style to counter it due to his dynamic striking and recent improvements in wrestling.
Aldo and Dvalishvili had already fought (at UFC 278), with the latter winning via decision in a lackluster fight. As Sandhagen stated above, both fighters were hesitant in the fight, and the Georgian pushed Aldo to the cage. The only significant attack of the MMA fight was a knee Aldo landed. Aldo retired after the loss but returned at UFC 301, defeating Jonathan Martinez and putting himself in title contention, per Chael Sonnen.
Cory Sandhagen speaks on Jose Aldo fighting for the title next
Jose Aldo had an impressive showing against Jonathan Martinez as he had won all three rounds on all the judges’ scorecards. The fight was the last one on his contract, but he expressed interest in resigning, potentially for a title shot. Sean O’Malley had also pondered the idea, though Merab Dvalishvili is likely next.
Cory Sandhagen shuts down talks of title shot for Jose Aldo (via Imago)If Aldo gets a title shot, it will put Cory Sandhagen further away from a title shot. In his recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun, Sandhagen spoke about the possibility of Aldo fighting for the title and his thoughts about it.
If [Sean] O’Malley wants to call out another like easy fight, to be honest with you, not that [Jose] Aldo is like the easiest fighter in the world, but he is much past the age where most people start doing well, and that’s just kind of like facts. Um, I don’t know, man. I think that there’s no way that O’Malley and I don’t fight after this one if he wins [against Merab Dvalishvili] and I win [against Umar Nurmagomedov], you know? Like, I just don’t see it. That’s what the fans want, I think that’s what the UFC wants.
Cory Sandhagen via MMAJunkie
Sandhagen stated his potential fight against O’Malley is the biggest fight in the division. Moreover, O’Malley is stylistically a nightmare matchup for Aldo, who plots and land strikes. “Suga” moves better than anybody in the division and will put Aldo in harm’s way if the fight, according to Sandhagen.
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