# Cory Sandhagen
**Cory Sandhagen** (Cory James Sandhagen, born 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division of the [Ultimate Fighting Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/ultimate-fighting-championship) (UFC), where he is a two-time title challenger known for a creative, technical striking style.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / nickname | Cory James Sandhagen; "Sandman"[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) • [4](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/32931-cory-sandhagen) |
| Born | 1992; place of birth Aurora, United States[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) • [1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/cory-sandhagen) |
| Division / record | Bantamweight; 18 wins, 7 losses, 0 draws (8 KO/TKO, 3 submission, 7 decision wins)[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) |
| Pro / UFC debut | Professional since 2015; UFC octagon debut January 28, 2018[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/cory-sandhagen) |
| Title fights | Petr Yan for the interim bantamweight title at UFC 267 (2021); Merab Dvalishvili for the undisputed bantamweight title at UFC 320 (2025); lost both by unanimous decision[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/cory-sandhagen) • [2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) |
| Signature wins | Frankie Edgar (flying-knee KO, 0:28 of round 1, 2021); Marlon Moraes (spinning wheel kick TKO, 2020); Song Yadong (doctor-stoppage TKO, 2022); Deiveson Figueiredo (TKO, 2025)[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) |
| Teams | Trains at Tiger Beetle Martial Arts; associated with Elevation Fight Team[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/cory-sandhagen) • [2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) |
## Background and early career
Sandhagen was born in Aurora, United States, and turned professional in 2015 after four amateur bouts between 2012 and 2015, in which he went 3-1.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/cory-sandhagen) • [2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) His early professional career ran through regional promotions including Sparta Combat League, RFA, and LFA, where he won fights by decision, triangle choke, and TKO before a unanimous-decision loss to Jamall Emmers at LFA 5 in February 2017.[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) Two LFA wins in late 2017 and January 2018, a first-round TKO of Jose Aguayo at LFA 31, brought him to the UFC.[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869)
## UFC career
**Debut and rise.** Sandhagen entered the octagon on January 28, 2018, stopping Austin Arnett by punches in the second round at a UFC Fight Night event in Charlotte, NC.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/cory-sandhagen) • [2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) He then stopped Iuri Alcantara by punches in the second round in August 2018, took a split decision over [John Lineker](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-lineker) in April 2019, and beat ranked contender Raphael Assuncao by unanimous decision at [UFC 241](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-241) in August 2019.[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869)
**Setback and highlight-reel run.** At UFC 250 on June 6, 2020, [Aljamain Sterling](https://www.edgepedia.org/aljamain-sterling) submitted Sandhagen with a rear-naked choke in 1:28 of the first round, his first UFC loss.[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) Sandhagen answered with two of the division's most celebrated knockouts: a spinning wheel kick and punches finish of [Marlon Moraes](https://www.edgepedia.org/marlon-moraes) in 1:03 of the second round in October 2020, and a flying knee that knocked out former champion [Frankie Edgar](https://www.edgepedia.org/frankie-edgar) 28 seconds into their February 2021 fight.[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869)
**Title challenges.** Sandhagen lost a split decision to former champion TJ Dillashaw in July 2021, then challenged [Petr Yan](https://www.edgepedia.org/petr-yan) for the interim bantamweight title at [UFC 267](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-267) on October 30, 2021, losing a five-round unanimous decision.[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) He stayed in contention with a fourth-round doctor-stoppage TKO of Song Yadong in the UFC Fight Night main event on September 17, 2022, a split-decision win over [Marlon Vera](https://www.edgepedia.org/marlon-vera) in March 2023, and a unanimous decision over Rob Font in August 2023.[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) • [3](https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-fight-night-sandhagen-vs-song-results-highlights-winner-interviews) A unanimous-decision loss to Umar Nurmagomedov in August 2024 preceded his second title opportunity.[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869)
**Figueiredo win and second title shot.** On May 3, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 67 in Des Moines, Sandhagen stopped former flyweight champion [Deiveson Figueiredo](https://www.edgepedia.org/deiveson-figueiredo) by TKO at 4:08 of the second round after a heel hold twisted Figueiredo's knee and left him unable to continue.[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) • [5](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/sandhagen-destroza-la-rodilla-de-figueiredo-para-pelear-por-el-titulo-n/) The win earned him a shot at champion [Merab Dvalishvili](https://www.edgepedia.org/merab-dvalishvili) at [UFC 320](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-320) on October 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. Dvalishvili retained the title by unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-46), setting a UFC record with 20 takedowns landed on 37 attempts in a five-round bout.[6](https://apnews.com/article/c11c07b954dc07a0850c877497572cbf)
**Recent fights.** At UFC 329 on July 11, 2026, Sandhagen lost a three-round unanimous decision to Mario Bautista, who took advantage of a first-round leg kick and applied pressure in each round afterward.[7](https://apnews.com/article/a7a3446abf143aaac32777d262612bb0) • [1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/cory-sandhagen)
## Fighting style and metrics
Sandhagen is described as a creative striker who uses switching stances, long straight punches, knees, and unorthodox attacks such as the spinning wheel kick and flying knee.[5](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/sandhagen-destroza-la-rodilla-de-figueiredo-para-pelear-por-el-titulo-n/) • [2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) His UFC statistics show a striking-first profile: 1,233 significant strikes landed of 2,718 attempted, 4.92 significant strikes landed per minute against 3.72 absorbed, 55 percent significant-strike defense, and 57 percent takedown defense, with 83 percent of his landed significant strikes delivered standing.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/cory-sandhagen) He has finished 11 of his 18 professional wins, with six first-round finishes, four second-round finishes, and one fourth-round finish.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/cory-sandhagen)
His grappling has developed unevenly. A statistical analysis of his career notes that from 2022 onward he developed a genuine wrestling dimension, including 100 percent takedown accuracy and more than 19 minutes of control time against [Rob Font](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-font), but describes this grappling identity as inconsistent and fight-plan dependent rather than a stable second weapon.[8](https://www.roundonestats.com/fighters/cory-sandhagen) His losses reflect the pattern: six of his seven professional losses are by decision, one by submission, and none by knockout.[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869)
## Teams and training
Sandhagen trains at Tiger Beetle Martial Arts and has been associated with the Elevation Fight Team in Colorado.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/cory-sandhagen) • [2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) For his August 2024 fight against [Umar Nurmagomedov](https://www.edgepedia.org/umar-nurmagomedov), his corner included coach [Trevor Wittman](https://www.edgepedia.org/trevor-wittman), who also trains figures such as Kamaru Usman and Justin Gaethje.[9](https://as.com/us/masdeporte/un-nurmagomedov-y-el-villano-de-la-ufc-asaltan-abu-dhabi-n/)
## Record against elite opposition
A defining feature of Sandhagen's career is the caliber of his opposition. Four of his losses came against men who held or now hold UFC championships: Merab Dvalishvili, TJ Dillashaw, Aljamain Sterling, and Petr Yan.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/cory-sandhagen) His two title fights, against Yan in 2021 and Dvalishvili in 2025, both ended in unanimous-decision defeats over five rounds, leaving him 0-2 in title bouts.[2](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869) • [6](https://apnews.com/article/c11c07b954dc07a0850c877497572cbf)
## References
1. [Cory Sandhagen, UFC athlete profile](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/cory-sandhagen)
2. [Cory "Sandman" Sandhagen, Sherdog fighter page](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Cory-Sandhagen-112869)
3. [UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs Song results and highlights, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-fight-night-sandhagen-vs-song-results-highlights-winner-interviews)
4. [Cory Sandhagen, Tapology fighter page](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/32931-cory-sandhagen)
5. [Sandhagen destroza la rodilla de Figueiredo para pelear por el título, AS](https://as.com/masdeporte/polideportivo/sandhagen-destroza-la-rodilla-de-figueiredo-para-pelear-por-el-titulo-n/)
6. [Pereira dethrones Ankalaev with a 1st-round stoppage at UFC 320, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/c11c07b954dc07a0850c877497572cbf)
7. [Conor McGregor suffers early knee injury in return, loses to Max Holloway at UFC 329, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/a7a3446abf143aaac32777d262612bb0)
8. [Cory Sandhagen record and tale of the tape, Round One Stats](https://www.roundonestats.com/fighters/cory-sandhagen)
9. [Un Nurmagomedov y el villano de la UFC asaltan Abu Dhabi, AS](https://as.com/us/masdeporte/un-nurmagomedov-y-el-villano-de-la-ufc-asaltan-abu-dhabi-n/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › Featherweight and bantamweight fighters › Bantamweight fighters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license