Cory Sandhagen’s journey into combat sports began in taekwondo, but just kicking his opponents wasn’t enough for him! After getting into trouble for throwing punches during training, a young Sandhagen switched to boxing. While the squared circle had its charm, it was watching the WEC (World Extreme Cagefighting) that drew him into the world of mixed martial arts where there are multiple ways to win or lose a fight.

Boasting a professional MMA record of 17-4, ‘The Sandman’ has come a long way since his taekwondo days. Currently in the no.2 spot in the UFC’s bantamweight division, Sandhagen has faced a murderer’s row of names to make it as an elite fighter. Here’s a look at all the losses he has suffered in his quest to become a UFC champion!

Cory Sandhagen has only lost to champions in the UFC

Starting his professional career in 2017 with the Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA), Cory Sandhagen’s professional debut wasn’t exactly a fairy tale. Want to know more about that? Hold on, we’ll get to it. In 2018, the UFC knocked on his door, and Sandhagen was more than ready to step into the Octagon.

Did you know he won his first UFC fight against Austin Arnett with a second-round TKO? This victory put the entire bantamweight division on alert. Sandhagen went on to win his next four fights, defeating veterans like John Lineker and Raphael Assuncao. But what was his first major setback? It came when he faced Aljamain Sterling in a bantamweight title eliminator at UFC 250. Losing via rear-naked choke to Sterling, who would later become the division’s champion, showed Sandhagen still had some hurdles to overcome.

‘The Sandman’ then lived up to his moniker as he made short work of Marlon Moraes and Frankie Edgar with two highlight reel worthy finishes in his next fights. But against former champion TJ Dillashaw at UFC Vegas 32, Sandhagen gave a solid performance but faced heartbreak with a split decision loss.

Next up was Petr Yan, a dangerous fighter and their clash at UFC 267 would be for the interim bantamweight championship. Over 5 rounds, Sandhagen was unable to find his groove as he lost a unanimous decision and the chance to win the interim title, as well. But once again, he picked himself up, dusted himself off, and rattled off 3 straight wins highlighting his fierce resilience and determination. So what about his loss outside the UFC that we talked about earlier? Let’s take a look at it now.

‘The Sandman’s only loss outside the UFC

In his debut for the LFA at LFA 5 in 2017, Cory Sandhagen faced the first loss of his professional MMA career as he was unable to win the decision over Jamall Emmers. However, Sandhagen wasn’t the only future UFC fighter who came up short against Emmers!

Alexander Hernandez also lost a split decision to Emmers when they faced off at Hero FC: Pride of the Valley 2 in 2013 in the American regional MMA circuit. ‘Prettyboy’ then made his way to the UFC in 2020, where he has been unable to string together a significant winning streak and his last outing against Nate Landwehr at UFC on ESPN 54 saw him get knocked out in round 1.

Meanwhile, Sandhagen is currently set to face off against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC on ABC 7 on August 3rd and the winner gets a crack at the bantamweight title in the future. ‘The Sandman’s story is one of perseverance and evolution, reminding us that true champions can rise even after falling. Do you think Cory Sandhagen has what it takes to become the bantamweight champion? Share your views in the comments below!