“I was just not happy,” Cory Sandhagen opens up about lengthy layoff ahead of headlining UFC Vegas 60
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Cory Sandhagen
Cory Sandhagen is what gives the fans the reason to assess the bantamweight division as the most exciting division in the UFC roster, so his absence from the Octagon was acutely missed. Sandhagen is returning this weekend against upcoming UFC prospect, the very talented and very brutal, China’s own and UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber’s mentee, Song Yadong. He is 14-4 in his overall MMA career and Yadong is 19-6 with a draw. The former has 9 career finishes and Yadong has 11.
However, Sandhagen is the older fighter here with an elder age of 6 more years than Yadong’s age, which is 24. Both Sandhagen and Yadong are fast twitch fighters who know the right strike to take their opponent out cold at the right timing, no matter the position. Sandhagen is on a 2-fight skid with back-to-back losses to former world champions, TJ Dillashaw and Petr Yan. Therefore, he is high in need of a victory in order to begin a potentially good title run.
Cory Sandhagen believes his skill development required taking an 11-month layoff from competition
In his interview with Ariel Helwani at The MMA Hour, Sandhagen talks about his fight against Yadong, previews TJ Dillashaw vs Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280, his personality change and much more. In the midst of all, Sandhagen also talks about the reason for his long layoff, which might come surprising from an athlete who’s already a top-tier fighter in the division full of former world champions in the rankings.
“I needed this time to develop my skills man,” says Sandhagen. “I have lost like a couple of really close fights against some of the best guys in the world and I was just you know, not happy or not okay with losing those fights… I really needed a year to solidify a lot of things, to get better at a lot of things…” concluded Sandhagen.
What do you make of Sandhagen’s reason for a layoff? Do you think we will see a completely different fighter with a more mechanical approach or the same old “Sandman” that recklessly finished opponents on his way to the top? Do you think the winner of this fight deserves a title shot next? Who do you think wins between Yadong and Sandhagen? Where do you put Sandhagen amongst the most exciting fighters in the division?
Also Read: “Be happy and drink Pepsi” Khabib Nurmagomedov dishes on the naysers about his WEIGHT GAIN
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Abhai Singh Tanwar
(1386 Articles Published)