Cory Sandhagen “The Sandman”
Bantamweight · United States · UFC
Switch-stance volume striker with elite footwork, angles and creativity
Flying knee / spinning wheel kick
Record & stats
| Division | Bantamweight |
|---|---|
| Categories | MMA |
| Promotion | UFC |
| Nationality | United States |
| Team | High Altitude Martial Arts / Elevation Fight Team |
| Height | 180cm |
| Reach | 178cm |
| Stance | Switch |
| Age | 34 |
| KO rate | 61% |
| Status | Active |
How the wins come
61% Finish rate- 8 KO/TKO · 44%
- 3 Submission · 17%
- 7 Decision · 39%
Biography
Cory "The Sandman" Sandhagen is one of the most inventive strikers ever to grace the UFC bantamweight division. Born April 20, 1992 in Aurora, Colorado, he honed his craft at High Altitude Martial Arts and the Elevation Fight Team before joining the UFC in 2018, where his stance-switching, angular footwork and killer instinct quickly made him a fan favorite. His highlight reel is among the division's finest: a spinning wheel kick knockout of Marlon Moraes, a 28-second flying-knee finish of Frankie Edgar — the second-fastest in UFC history — and a fourth-round stoppage of Song Yadong. Sandhagen has twice fought for UFC gold, pushing Petr Yan in a Fight of the Night interim-title classic in 2021 and challenging champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 320 in 2025, while stacking wins over Marlon Vera, Rob Font and Deiveson Figueiredo. Ranked No. 4 at bantamweight as of July 2026, the 34-year-old returns at UFC 329 on July 11 to rematch Mario Bautista — a man he submitted in 2019 — with another run at the title firmly in his sights.
Fight history
- LMerab DvalishviliL UD 5
- WDeiveson FigueiredoW TKO R2
- LUmar NurmagomedovL UD 5
- WRob FontW UD 5
- WMarlon VeraW SD 5
FAQ
- What is Cory Sandhagen's record?
- As of July 9, 2026, Cory Sandhagen's professional MMA record is 18-6 (8 wins by KO/TKO, 3 by submission, 7 by decision).
- When does Cory Sandhagen fight next?
- Sandhagen rematches Mario Bautista at UFC 329 on July 11, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
- Has Cory Sandhagen ever won a UFC title?
- No — he has twice fought for UFC gold, losing decisions to Petr Yan in the 2021 interim-title bout and to champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 320 in October 2025.
- Has Sandhagen fought Mario Bautista before?
- Yes — Sandhagen submitted Bautista with a first-round armbar (3:31) at UFC Brooklyn on January 19, 2019, making UFC 329 a rematch.