Cory Sandhagen takes on a former champion in TJ Dillashaw in an epic bantamweight fight this weekend. The two men will headline UFC Vegas 32 in a bid to establish themselves firmly in the title picture in the bantamweight division.
Coming into the fight, ‘Sandman’ is on a two-fight win streak with jaw-dropping finishes over the likes of Marlon Moraes and Frankie Edgar. Dillashaw on the other hand returns after a two-year lay-off following his failed drug test.
In a recent interview, Brett Okamoto asked Sandhagen what he made of Dillashaw’s failed drug test and if that is something that bothers him. He said, “It does not bother me. TJ has to live with TJ’s decisions. I have to live with my decisions. But it is like a little bit gross in my opinion to put yourself in an illegal advantage in a one-on-one combat scenario in something that you really love. I mean it’s gross if there is a word for it is just kinda gross.”
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‘Sandman’ continued, “Honestly, I don’t need any more motivation to hate someone or wanna beat someone up other than the fact that TJ is trying to take my dream away from me. I have been working a really long time to get to where I am and he is trying to take that away from me…. The only motivation I need is TJ is trying to take something away from me, he’s trying to hurt me. That will make me alone try to knock him out.”
The winner of TJ Dillashaw vs Cory Sandhagen will most likely fight for the title next
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‘Sandman’ was on a seven-fight win streak and on the cusp of a title shot going into his fight against Aljamain Sterling last year. The fight did not go his way as he was stopped in under two minutes of the very first round. ‘Funkmaster’ won the fight and fought for the bantamweight strap in his very next fight.
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Since his loss, Sandhagen has come back hungrier than ever. He has been viciously knocking out everyone in his way thus far. If he is able to do the same against a former champion in TJ Dillashaw, his next fight will most definitely be for the title.