Ranked bantamweights Mario Bautista and Cory Sandhagen collided on the UFC 329 main card on Saturday, third fight in and just ahead of the return of Conor McGregor.
Sandhagen had come up short in a title challenge against Merab Dvalishvili last October, and was returning for the first time since. He and Bautista had fought once previously, with Sandhagen earning a submission win back in 2019. That fight happened to be Bautista’s debut.
Early in the fight, Sandhagen stung Bautista with a left hand to the jaw, forcing him to retreat. A head kick attempt followed, and soon Bautista was tying things up, taking the fight to the fence and looking for a takedown. Sandhagen would stay upright, and eventually break free, landing an elbow off the break. Sandhagen would employ stance switches as the round progressed, which Bautista mirrored.
A takedown attempt or two were fought off by Sandhagen, whose defense was clearly up to par, at least until a level change in the final minute. That saw Bautista eventually take the back, though he was too high up. Bautista managed to go after a leg, but didn’t have time to work before the round closed out.
Between rounds, Sandhagen was seen limping, so the damage may have been done with that submission attempt. And Bautista was happy to fire a low kick and take advantage. Sandhagen stayed in the fight however, and Bautista appeared to have slowed a step. Sandhagen’s left leg remained an issue, limiting his movement. Bautista chose to grapple, pressing Sandhagen into the fence, but couldn’t keep him there. A Sandhagen eye poke grazed Bautista, but the pair simply touched gloves and fought on without any pause in the action. Sandhagen then took the fight to the fence, but couldn’t keep it there; Bautista shot on a leg, but Sandhagen just pulled free. That took things to the third.
Between rounds, Sandhagen told his corner he was good to go, compromised leg or not. Bautista, however, drilled him with a left hand to open round three. Sandhagen was hurt, went down, and had Bautista all over him! Cory tried to lock up a leg, and eventually worked his way up with Bautista still firing lefts and rights. Moments later, it was Mario Bautista landing a takedown; the momentum had clearly shifted.
Despite briefly giving up his back, Sandhagen would make it back to his feet. He still had Bautista on him though, and wound up dragged back down. Bautista landed a slick elbow; Sandhagen went after a takedown of his own once they were back up. He landed it, but couldn’t keep the fight down. Instead, they’d fight to the final horn and let the judges declare a winner.
In the end, it was Bautista coming away with the win, the third round being key.
Official Result: Mario Bautista def. Cory Sandhagen by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
