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Cory Sandhagen argues for UFC title shot over top contender who beat him

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow
By Christopher De Santiago | Last updated May 4, 2025 1:59 PM ET

There’s only one man standing in between Cory Sandhagen and a crack at the UFC title.

The highest-ranking bantamweight to not have fought champion Merab Dvalishvili, it shouldn’t come as a surprise Cory Sandhagen’s calling for a title fight following his massive win at UFC Des Moines.

On Saturday, the #4 contender needed less than two rounds to dominate a former two-time flyweight champion in Deiveson Figueiredo.

The fight was ruled a TKO stoppage from tapout due to injury after Figueiredo popped his knee in a 50/50 position with Sandhagen on the ground, eating punches from ‘Sandman’ as he grimaced in pain.

It wasn’t your ordinary TKO but Sandhagen had returned to the win column nonetheless, rebounding from a decision loss to then undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov last August to reinsert himself into the title mix at 135lbs with the champ taking notice.

Cory Sandhagen claims he deserves title shot over Petr Yan

The line for a bantamweight title shot could be longer as top contenders wait for the result of Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley 2 at UFC 316 on June 7th.

Besides Sandhagen, former champion Petr Yan is the only fighter in the top-5 to be coming off a win.

The #2-ranked Yan made it back-to-back wins last year by defeating Song Yadong and the aforementioned Figueiredo. Yan also has a previous title win over Sandhagen from 2021.

“I think I deserve the title shot next regardless,” Sandhagen said at the post-fight press conference.

“I mean, who else is there?

“Umar just fought for the belt, lost. Yan is coming off of a win, but also lost to both of the guys that are fighting. So, I don’t know how exciting that would be…

“I finished Figgy in a round and a half. Yan didn’t finish Figgy. Yan got dropped by Figgy.
Figgy, I think, maybe hit me one time.

“I showed that I’m better. I showed that I’m the best guy, and I deserve to be next,” Sandhagen added.

Cory Sandhagen gave Petr Yan one of his toughest fights on short notice

Scheduled for five rounds in his last nine fights, Sandhagen has yet to fight for the undisputed title.

Winner of four of his last five bouts, one of Sandhagen’s most recent losses came to Petr Yan in an interim title fight in the co-main event of UFC 267.

Sandhagen filled in for Aljamain Sterling on short notice after he had withdrew, giving Yan a hell of a fight in Abu Dhabi.

Sandhagen had a strong start against Yan, taking the first round and some of the second as well with Yan catching up in the later rounds in what was a competitive fight.

Yan dropped Sandhagen once across 25 minutes and while the Russian was outlanded by twenty strikes, Yan’s damage and numbers were enough to win him four rounds on the judges scorecards.

Not a bad night for a Sandhagen after having a shorter training camp for Yan, who looked his vintage self in the striking department. The two earned ‘fight of the night’ honors with a $50,000 bonus each.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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