Cory Sandhagen is in what is very likely a title eliminator at UFC 250. While nothing has been officially announced by the promotion, Sandhagen let slip at the event’s media day that his agent had been told just that.
Sandhagen (12-1) has won all five of his fights inside the octagon thus far. The bantamweight has defeated impressive names in his last two fights, namely John Lineker and Raphael Assuncao.
At UFC 250, he’s been paired up with Aljamain Sterling, another surging 135lb’er. What else, if not a title shot, could come of such a match-up?
“My agent did tell me that that was relayed to him by the UFC,” Sandhagen revealed. “Makes no sense to me [if that wasn’t the case]. So it feels like yeah, the title is right within my grasp. I just need to reach my hand out and grab it.”
Fight Week in Vegas has come without the usual pomp and circumstance. The media day was virtual. Outlets were in attendance at the UFC Apex for Friday’s weigh-in, but fans were not. There’ll be no official weigh-in. It’s a streamlined experience. Corona-era MMA.
“It feels like we’re just here to fight. A little bit more old school,” Sandhagen observed. “It feels like there’s a lot less smoke and mirrors.”
“It’s a little bit boring,” he admitted. But at the same time, it’s been fun. Thanks in part to a friend bringing along an X-Box. “I’ve been trying to learn to play Call of Duty. Even though I still suck at it.”
Should Sandhagen manage to get past the “Funkmaster” on Saturday — and should the UFC come through on that title shot — he won’t have long to wait to know who he’ll be fighting next. With Henry Cejudo having retired, vacating the bantamweight title in the process, Jose Aldo and Petr Yan are expected to fight for the belt soon.
UFC 250 takes place this Saturday, June 6, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card airs live on PPV following prelims on ESPN (TSN in Canada).
