Cory Sandhagen expressed keen interest in the UFC 316 rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley, knowing the victorious fighter would likely be his next opponent for a bantamweight title fight. The bout took place recently, with Dvalishvili securing a decisive victory by controlling the fight early and finishing with a submission in the third round. Sandhagen’s focus remains fixed on seizing the championship opportunity against Dvalishvili, the reigning titleholder.
Dvalishvili’s Commanding Win and O’Malley’s Struggles in the Octagon
Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley for the second time, dominating the first two rounds before applying a fight-ending chokehold in round three. This result marked another setback for O’Malley, who had gained celebrity status as a top UFC draw but now faces challenges in regaining contention after his twin losses to the current champion. Despite O’Malley’s dedication to lifestyle changes ahead of the match, including steps to improve his preparation, the outcome remained the same.
Sandhagen Expresses Empathy for O’Malley’s Journey and Challenges
Cory Sandhagen showed sympathy for O’Malley’s efforts to improve, understanding the frustration that can come with making significant changes but not achieving the desired results.
“I kind of feel for Sean,”
Sandhagen said.
“Sean’s one of those guys that kind of thinks about life in terms of a journey and all of that stuff and I can relate to that big time. So I know the feeling of changing a lot of stuff about your life in hopes that it will translate over into fighting and then also hope that you’ll get a good result from it. It sucks that life doesn’t always work like that. So I kind of feel for him a little bit.”
—Cory Sandhagen, UFC Fighter
Analysis of O’Malley’s Performance and Dvalishvili’s Dominance
Sandhagen observed that O’Malley appeared off his game during the fight, noting that although he effectively defended several takedowns, he failed to mount significant offense. The third round saw O’Malley caught in a ground grapple leading to Dvalishvili securing a choke that ended the fight. Sandhagen recognized Dvalishvili’s growing momentum and confidence and welcomed the challenge of facing the champion soon.
“The fight itself, Sean looked a little bit off, even more off than the last time,”
Sandhagen stated.
“I don’t really know what that’s about. I mean Merab looked super on. I think Merab’s building some really good momentum.”
—Cory Sandhagen, UFC Fighter
He added,
“I think that he’s getting more confident in each fight and I’m really excited to face that challenge. I think that I’m the guy to beat him. I just can’t wait to actually be a f*cking world champion finally.”
—Cory Sandhagen, UFC Fighter
Preparing for a Title Shot and Future Opponents
While Sandhagen is awaiting an official fight offer from the UFC, he is preparing to face Merab Dvalishvili, who suggested the bout could be scheduled for November or December. Sandhagen is optimistic about the timing and expresses eagerness to take the next step in his career by competing for the championship belt.
“I know Merab was saying sometime in November or December,”
Sandhagen said.
“That works for me, too. These things take a little bit of time or whatever but I’m pretty confident. I feel good about it and I’m super excited to finally get my title shot.”
—Cory Sandhagen, UFC Fighter
Potential Impact on O’Malley’s Career Path if Sandhagen Wins the Title
Should Sandhagen defeat Dvalishvili and claim the title, it could renew Sean O’Malley’s chances to return to contention. Sandhagen acknowledges O’Malley’s athleticism and skill, stressing that while O’Malley is first recognized as a star, he is also a talented fighter capable of adapting his game. However, overcoming recent setbacks will require O’Malley to refine aspects of his fighting beyond his trademark knockout power.
“I think he does,” Sandhagen said about O’Malley’s ability to rebound.
“O’Malley kind of gets labeled as a star first before he gets labeled as a good fighter. I think O’Malley’s a really, really good fighter. He’s a super athletic guy, also, so when you’re that athletic, you’re capable of making a lot of changes in your game and stuff.”
—Cory Sandhagen, UFC Fighter
Sandhagen emphasized the importance of technical improvement, especially given the caliber of grapplers O’Malley now faces.
“If you don’t pick things up very quickly, it can be hard to change. But Sean definitely has that ability, just him being a really good athlete so I think he definitely can.”
—Cory Sandhagen, UFC Fighter
Key Adaptations O’Malley Must Make Beyond Lifestyle Changes
O’Malley previously spoke about lifestyle adjustments such as quitting marijuana, reducing social media use, and abandoning video games to sharpen his focus. However, Sandhagen believes the critical shifts O’Malley needs involve his fight preparation and style rather than personal habits.
“I think he just has to change a few things, not like in his personal life but in his technical fighting style of stuff and then just be able to grapple with these guys that are really good grapplers,”
Sandhagen explained.
“He got away for a long time just being able to one-shot, knock people out. Now he’s facing some for real well-rounded, really good fighters and you just can’t be a one-trick pony anymore.”
—Cory Sandhagen, UFC Fighter
Sandhagen’s Focus Remains on the Title Fight Over Other Matchups
Though a future showdown with Sean O’Malley remains a possibility considering their stylistic matchups, Sandhagen’s priority is securing the title fight with Dvalishvili. With both fighters expressing readiness to meet later this year, anticipation is building around this high-stakes contest that could reshape the bantamweight division’s landscape.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What fighting style is Cory Sandhagen?
A. Alexander was a college basketball player for the Virginia Cavaliers. In 1995, the San Antonio Spurs picked him in the NBA draft. He spent seven seasons playing in the NBA with teams like the Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, and Charlotte Bobcats.
Q. What type of fighter is Cory Sandhagen?
A. Cory James Sandhagen, born on April 20, 1992, is an American fighter in mixed martial arts. He fights in the Bantamweight class of the UFC.
Q. What kind of fighter is Cory Sandhagen?
A. Cory James Sandhagen, born on April 20, 1992, is a mixed martial artist from America. He fights in the Bantamweight category in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Sandhagen has been a professional fighter since 2015 and has also been part of Legacy Fighting Alliance.