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Cory Sandhagen has his sights set on a UFC bantamweight title shot in 2025, but first, he must put on a show at UFC on ESPN 67. The high-stakes main event on May 3 sees Sandhagen face former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in a bout that could redefine the division’s pecking order.
Coming off a tough unanimous decision loss to Umar Nurmagomedov in a title eliminator last August, Sandhagen (17-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is eager to reestablish himself as a top contender. With bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili likely heading into a rematch with Sean O’Malley, Sandhagen believes a statement victory over Figueiredo (24-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC) could put him in prime position for a title opportunity.
“I like the fight a lot,” Sandhagen told MMA Junkie. “I have a lot of advantages going into this fight against Figgy. I’ve grown so much as a fighter. I lost a close one against a guy who lost a close one to the champ. I still don’t think I’m very far off from the belt by any means.”
Sandhagen has yet to face either Dvalishvili or O’Malley, making him an intriguing challenger in the title mix. He believes fans are eager to see those matchups, especially a long-anticipated showdown with O’Malley.
“I’m the only guy that hasn’t fought Merab that’s kind of going to be in the talks here pretty soon,” Sandhagen explained. “I also think the entire world wants to see O’Malley and me fight each other. They’ve been begging for that fight, so that’s one that I want too.”
With a strategic mindset and confidence in his skill set, Sandhagen envisions a breakout year.
“I think this year is going to be really good for me. Hopefully, I’ll get in three fights and one of them will be a championship fight. That might be a little optimistic, but that’s what I will shoot for.”
Figueiredo presents a dangerous challenge with his knockout power and submission prowess, but Sandhagen believes his style will shine.
“With Figgy, you have to worry about submissions and knockouts, but I do well against those guys. I think it’s going to be a fight where I can look dynamic and put on a really masterful performance.”
Currently ranked No. 4 in the UFC bantamweight rankings, Sandhagen knows a dominant showing against the No. 5-ranked Figueiredo could cement his case for a title shot.
“Whether O’Malley or Merab wins, I’m the only guy in the top five that hasn’t fought Merab,” Sandhagen said. “And O’Malley is someone people have been begging to see me fight for a long time. The way that I think I can beat Figgy, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a performance that speaks very loudly to me getting a title shot next.”
As fight night approaches, Sandhagen is ready to prove he belongs in the title conversation. A dominant win over Figueiredo could be the key to unlocking the championship opportunity he craves.