On August 3, top UFC bantamweight Cory Sandhagen will return to the cage after a year-long hiatus. In the main event of UFC on ABC 7, he will face undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.
In anticipation of the fight, Cory Sandhagen gave an exclusive interview to Telecomasia.net, in which he:
- shared his plans for the fight against Nurmagomedov;
- discussed what he has been doing since his bicep injury;
- evaluated his new boxing coach Trevor Wittman;
- offered predictions for the title fight between Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili.
"I want to make the most of the opportunities I have"
– Recently, you started working with Trevor Wittman (a well-known American MMA coach who has elevated the striking skills of Kamaru Usman and Justin Gaethje – note from Telecomasia.net). How has this affected the development of your fighting skills?
– Trevor has made me a much more precise and accurate boxer. My footwork has improved, and my strikes are more precise and powerful. Trevor is a coach who pays great attention to detail. Working with him has been a great pleasure.
– How was your year off from fighting going after your bicep injury you suffered in the bout against Rob Font?
– I did a lot of thinking about my career and focused on improving my fitness in the gym. But the biggest change in me has been that I’m now extremely motivated to step back into the cage. I want to make the most of the opportunities given to me. This is the second half of my career, and I want to achieve all the goals I've set. I aim to become a world champion, defeat the best fighters in this sport, and make my mark in history as one of the greatest MMA fighters. I’ve sat on the sidelines long enough, and now I’m seriously motivated.
"To defeat Nurmagomedov, I need to be equal to him in every aspect"
– Speaking of motivation, why did you accept the fight with Umar Nurmagomedov? Everyone else is turning him down. Moreover, you are much higher in the rankings and just a step away from a title fight (Sandhagen is ranked second in bantamweight, while Nurmagomedov is tenth – note from Telecomasia.net).
I believe Umar is a very serious fighter. You see, I took this fight with the mindset that "the crown should go to the best." And if Umar is better than me, then he deserves to wear the "crown." But I don’t believe he is better; I will win this Saturday. This is how the sport should be – not selecting the easiest options for yourself but fighting the best to prove that you are the best. I think this is the fair approach.
– What do you think about the current odds for the fight? Do you think Umar is being overvalued, considering that you are seen as a significant underdog? (The odds for Sandhagen to win are at 4.20)
– Honestly, it's a bit annoying. But that's okay; I’ll have the chance to make some of my fans richer. I will prove that many people are wrong about me. They haven’t seen much of what I’m capable of yet. I can’t wait to step into the cage, get my win, and reward my fans.
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– What do you think are the keys to victory over Umar?
– You see, it will be Umar who has to adjust to me, not the other way around. His team has a solid, aggressive game plan—a "blueprint" they follow repeatedly. Yes, that plan brings them victories, but to defeat Umar, I need to be equal to him in every aspect of the fight. I have to force him to adapt to me, to turn his game upside down. He will likely try to pressure me and impose his grappling. And he probably thinks his striking is better than mine. But I believe I am better in every area. In the fight, we'll find out who is truly better.
– Do you think that a victory over Umar will guarantee you a title shot?
– Yes, absolutely. Listen, stylistically, Umar is one of the toughest fighters in this weight class, possibly even in the entire UFC. After this win, the UFC will have to give me a title shot. If I beat Umar, I will have defeated one of the best undefeated fighters in the promotion. Plus, I've won my last three fights decisively. So, in my next fight, I should definitely be fighting for the title.
– Khabib Nurmagomedov will be in Umar's corner this Saturday. How did you feel when you heard this news?
– I’m not concerned about it at all. Throughout my training camp for this fight, I've been focusing on visualization, and I always envisioned Khabib in Umar's corner. So maybe I "manifested" Khabib's presence rather than the other way around (laughs). It might even work to my advantage instead of being a hindrance.
“Most likely, we’ll have a rematch with Yan”
– Who among your opponents had the hardest punch?
– John Lineker hit quite hard, Song Yadong had very fast strikes, and Petr Yan hit in the most unconventional way. Petr was the best at reading my attacks and effectively finding openings for his strikes.
– It’s always interesting to hear your analysis of upcoming fights. How do you think the main event of UFC Noche will go—Sean O'Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili?
– It’s a very tough fight for both fighters. Either can win, but in completely contrasting ways. If O'Malley wins, it will definitely be by knockout. And if Merab wins, it will likely be a five-round fight where he exhausts and beats Sean on the ground, and he might even submit him. What Merab doesn't do well, O'Malley does excellently. For instance, Dvalishvili struggles to close the distance and often puts himself in dangerous positions when engaging. O'Malley does this flawlessly. Also, Sean is very good at connecting with opponents as soon as they step into his range.
I believe O'Malley will win this fight. But I have to admit that I'm biased—I also want to fight Sean for a title; I'm very eager for that fight. I think UFC fans have long wanted to see our bout. And the fact that it will be a title fight only heightens my interest.
– Cory, which rematch would interest you more: against Petr Yan or Aljamain Sterling?
– I think it would be with Yan. Man, I was doing so well in that fight right up until the moment he dropped me (referring to the knockdown in the third round – note from Telecomasia.net). I was really shaken for the remaining two rounds. But it's great that I gained so many Russian fans after that fight. It would be amazing to fight Petr again, and we will most likely make that happen.
“My team and I were amazed by the skill level of Russian athletes”
– How comfortable do you feel in the bantamweight division now? Is there a chance we might see you as a featherweight in the future?
– I would only move up a weight class for a chance at a second title or some super fight. Yes, I'm a tall fighter, but I feel very comfortable at 61 kilograms. So, I would need a solid reason, like a good paycheck or a title fight, to transition to featherweight. But it could definitely happen; I can see that possibility.
– Cory, have you had a chance to try out the new gloves? What can you say about them?
– Honestly, they are just excellent gloves. I know the UFC has faced some criticism from fighters and fans over them. The logo on my gloves has worn off, but other than that, they are fantastic. They fit well, are snugger, and comfortably envelop the fingers. I believe they are much better than the previous ones, and I'm really happy with them.
– Cory, I'm from Russia, and I would really like to know—who do you think is the best Russian MMA fighter?
– Hmm, great question. I think that title should go to Khabib. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Fedor Emelianenko are the true pinnacles of MMA. I would highlight those two as the greatest.
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– Did you draw inspiration from Fedor when you started your journey in combat sports?
– To be honest, not really. The only reason is that I was closely following WEC when I began my career. My idols were José Aldo, Dominick Cruz, Donald Cerrone, Urijah Faber, and other fighters from that era.
As an amateur, I often represented Team USA at the world kickboxing championships. Whenever we traveled abroad, my team and I were amazed by the skill level of Russian athletes and also your closest neighbors. I know that Russia has an incredibly deep and rich history in combat sports. I'm very glad that your fighters are competing in the UFC even now, because you deserve it.
– Have you managed to make friends from Russia during your fighting career?
– Yes, we have quite a few Russian-speaking guys and fighters from Russia in our gym now. In Colorado, where I live, there is a pretty large community of people from Russia, so you guys always send over some great folks. My close friend is named Muhammadjon Naimov; he's from Tajikistan and also fights in the UFC. Over the past few years, we've become really good friends. In general, more and more guys from your region keep coming into the gym.
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– According to your social media, you lead quite an active lifestyle: hiking, snowboarding, extreme sports. How much money do you need each month to live comfortably in Colorado?
– Oh man, Denver is getting more and more expensive. Renting a two-bedroom apartment in the city will cost around $2,500 to $3,000 a month, which is no small amount. But you know, I'm used to saving money; I don't really spend much. I don’t wear expensive clothes or buy things for the sake of status - I have a very ordinary car. My only expenses are investments. And hiking is a free activity. I live a pretty simple life, and that suits me because I love nature. Nature is absolutely free.
