Sandhagen expresses disappointment over a scrapped match against a respected adversary: "I've always admired this fellow."
Score the Bonus with Cory "Sandman" Sandhagen
In the octagon, UFC lightweight divide contender Cory Sandhagen has squared off against some of the biggest names, including Frankie Edgar, Aljamain Sterling, TJ Dillashaw, and Petr Yan. Despite repeatedly calling out Dominick Cruz, the fight never came to pass. During a media day before UFC on ESPN 67, Sandhagen shared his thoughts on the matter:
"Y'all always hear about them trying to set up a fight with Cruz, but it just didn't happen. It's a damn shame. I really wanted that bout."
Sandhagen goes on to express his admiration for Cruz, confiding in his aspiration to mimic the bantamweight legend:
"Lookin' back at some of my old fights, I always think, 'Man, I fight just like Dominick Cruz.' I ain't the same guy anymore, but I've always aimed to pattern myself after him."
On May 4th, Sandhagen will clash with Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
Additional Perspective:
Recent revelations suggest that a bout with Cruz was almost a go, but ultimately fell through[4]. The details behind the fight's cancellation are sketchy, though timing and matchmaking likely played a significant role. As Sandhagen prepares for his upcoming fight with Figueiredo, it appears he has moved on to other high-profile matchups within the competitive bantamweight division[4][1]. The UFC's matchmaking strategy, coupled with Cruz's advancing career stage and Sandhagen's current contender rank, likely contributed to the absence of the Cruz fight from official cards[4][1].
👇 Read More:
- Betting & Predictions for Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, May 4, 2025
Bookmakers are likely to have mixed-martial-arts matches featuring Cory Sandhagen as a competitive betting option, given his prominent fights with Aljamain Sterling, TJ Dillashaw, and Petr Yan, despite the cancelled fight against Dominick Cruz. Sandhagen, expressed his disappointment over the cancelled Cruz fight, stating, "I really wanted that bout." With his upcoming fight against Deiveson Figueiredo at the Wells Fargo Arena, Sandhagen seems to have moved on from the cancelled Cruz match but has shown admiration for Cruz's fighting style, stating, "Lookin' back at some of my old fights, I always think, 'Man, I fight just like Dominick Cruz.'"
