Cory James Sandhagen (born April 20, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2015, Sandhagen also competed for Legacy Fighting Alliance. As of August 6, 2024, he is #4 in the UFC bantamweight rankings.
Background
Born and raised in Aurora, Colorado, Sandhagen attended Smoky Hill High School where he was on the basketball team – a sport he had been playing from his youth.
Sandhagen began martial arts training as a child, starting with
taekwondo. His instructors didn't allow punches, so Sandhagen switched to kickboxing. In kickboxing, Sandhagen won multiple WKA titles including a WKA world title. He then transitioned to mixed martial arts. He had been a fan of the sport since his childhood.
Sandhagen graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in psychology.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Sandhagen made his Legacy Fighting Alliance debut on February 24, 2017, at against
Jamall Emmers, losing the bout via unanimous decision.
His next fight was on October 17, 2017, against Luiz Antonio Lobo Gavinho at , which he won via first round TKO.
Sandhagen's final appearance for Legacy Fighting Alliance came on January 19, 2018, at , defeating Jose Aguayo via first round TKO.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
2018
Sandhagen made his promotional debut at on January 27, 2018, against
Austin Arnett.
He won the fight via second-round TKO.
His next bout was at on August 25, 2018 Iuri Alcantara.
2019
Sandhagen was scheduled to face
Thomas Almeida at .
However, it was later announced that Sandhagen would face
John Lineker at the event instead.
On January 10, Lineker was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a rib injury.
He was replaced by promotional newcomer
Mario Bautista.
He won the bout via first round submission.
The bout with Lineker was rescheduled and eventually took place on April 27, 2019, at .
Sandhagen faced Raphael Assunção on August 17, 2019, at UFC 241.
2020
Sandhagen was scheduled to face
Frankie Edgar in a bantamweight bout on January 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 166.
However, Edgar was removed from the fight in favor of a bout against Chan Sung Jung a month earlier at UFC Fight Night 165.
In turn, Sandhagen was removed from the card.
[ ]
Sandhagen faced Aljamain Sterling on June 6, 2020, at UFC 250
Sandhagen faced Marlon Moraes on October 11, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 179 in the main event.
2021
Sandhagen faced
Frankie Edgar at UFC Fight Night 184 on February 6, 2021.
He won the fight via knockout by flying knee in the first round.
This win earned him the
Performance of the Night award.
Sandhagen was scheduled to face T.J. Dillashaw on May 8, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 24.
Sandhagen faced Petr Yan for the Interim UFC Bantamweight Championship at UFC 267 on October 30, 2021. Sandhagen served as a late replacement for Aljamain Sterling, who was forced to withdraw from the bout with Yan due to a neck injury.
2022
Sandhagen faced
Song Yadong on September 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 210.
He won the fight via technical knockout after the doctor stopped the fight due to a cut.
2023
Sandhagen was scheduled to face
Marlon Vera on February 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 219.
However, the bout was rebooked for UFC on ESPN 43 on March 25.
Sandhagen won the fight via split decision.
Though one judge scored the bout for Vera, 24 out of 24 media outlets scored the bout for Sandhagen.
Sandhagen was scheduled to face Umar Nurmagomedov on August 5, 2023 at UFC on ESPN 50 in Nashville, Tennessee.
2024
Sandhagen faced Umar Nurmagomedov on August 3, 2024, at in a bantamweight title eliminator.
He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
2025
Sandhagen faced former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event on May 3, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 67.
He won the fight by technical knockout in the second round after Figueiredo suffered a knee injury.
This fight earned him another
Performance of the Night award.
Sandhagen competed for the UFC Bantamweight Championship against current champion Merab Dvalishvili on October 4, 2025 at UFC 320.
Personal life
Apart from his mixed martial arts career, Sandhagen worked part-time at a trauma center for children. He teaches mixed martial arts at High Altitude Martial Arts in Aurora, Colorado.
Sandhagen and his wife Erica got married in September 2023.
Championships and accomplishments
-
Ultimate Fighting Championship
-
Fight of the Night (Two times)
-
Performance of the Night (Three times)
-
Second fastest flying-knee finish in UFC history (0:28) vs. Frankie Edgar
-
UFC Honors Awards
-
2021: President's Choice Fight of the Year Nominee
-
UFC.com Awards
-
2019: Ranked #6 Submission of the Year
-
2021: Ranked #4 Fight of the Year ,
-
Sparta Combat League
-
SCL Featherweight Championship (one time; former)
-
MMA Junkie
-
2021 February Knockout of the Month vs. Frankie Edgar
-
2021 July Fight of the Month
-
Cageside Press
-
Combat Press
-
Bleacher Report
-
2019 Submission of the Year
-
CBS Sports
-
2021 #3 Ranked UFC Knockout of the Year
Mixed martial arts record
|-
|Loss
|align=center|18–6
|Merab Dvalishvili
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 320
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|18–5
|Deiveson Figueiredo
|TKO (knee injury)
|
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|4:08
|Des Moines, Iowa, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|17–5
|Umar Nurmagomedov
|Decision (unanimous)
|
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|17–4
|
Rob Font
|Decision (unanimous)
|
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|Nashville, Tennessee, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|16–4
|
Marlon Vera
|Decision (split)
|
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|San Antonio, Texas, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|15–4
|
Song Yadong
|TKO (doctor stoppage)
|
|
|align=center|4
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|14–4
|
Petr Yan
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 267
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|14–3
|T.J. Dillashaw
|Decision (split)
|
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|14–2
|
Frankie Edgar
|KO (flying knee)
|
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:28
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|13–2
|
Marlon Moraes
|TKO (spinning wheel kick and punches)
|
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1:03
|
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|12–2
|Aljamain Sterling
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|UFC 250
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:28
|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|12–1
|Raphael Assunção
|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 241
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Anaheim, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|11–1
|
John Lineker
|Decision (split)
|
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Sunrise, Florida, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 10–1
|
Mario Bautista
| Submission (armbar)
|
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 3:31
| Brooklyn, New York, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 9–1
| Iuri Alcântara
| TKO (punches)
|
|
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 1:01
| Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 8–1
|
Austin Arnett
| TKO (punches)
|
|
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 3:48
| Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 7–1
| José Aguayo
| TKO (knee and elbows)
|
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:07
| Phoenix, Arizona, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 6–1
| Luiz Antônio Lobo Gavinho
| TKO (punches)
|
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 3:00
| Phoenix, Arizona, United States
|
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 5–1
|
Jamall Emmers
| Decision (unanimous)
|
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Broomfield, Colorado, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 5–0
| Clay Wimer
| Decision (unanimous)
| RFA 43
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Broomfield, Colorado, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 4–0
| Josh Huber
| Decision (unanimous)
| Sparta Combat League 50
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Castle Rock, Colorado, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 3–0
| Dalton Goddard
| Submission (triangle choke)
| Paramount MMA 2016
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 3:38
| Denver, Colorado, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 2–0
| Andrew Tenneson
| Decision (unanimous)
| RFA 34
|
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Broomfield, Colorado, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 1–0
| Bruce Sessman
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
| Prize FC 9
|
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:16
| Williston, North Dakota, United States
|
|-
See also
-
List of current UFC fighters
-
List of male mixed martial artists
External links
