Cory Sandhagen Knocks Out Marlon Moraes, Indicates His Title Ambitions

Cory Sandhagen bounced back into the saddle tonight, following the loss to Aljamain Sterling, beating Marlon Moraes.

Sandhagen defeated the recent bantamweight title challenger with a TKO at 1:03 of the second round. It was a spinning wheel kick that landed on Moraes’ temple and sent him to the ground right away.

A few punches later, the referee had to step in and save the Brazilian from additional beating.

“I knew that I could (win that way), but that wasn’t the plan,” Sandhagen told. “I was just going to be free, man. I was just going to be myself. He’s really dangerous. I was just going to keep myself safe and just wear on him and fight him how I fight him.”

Cory Sandhagen is back in the win column and does so with style points! 🤫

A statement victory for @cors_life! 👊#UFCFightIsland5 pic.twitter.com/J50V89zScE

— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) October 11, 2020

All the said was true, with the Sandman rebuffing Moraes’ attacks early on with leg kicks that targeted either the rival’s legs or the midsection. The first round of the contest was filled with intensity and action on both sides. Moraes was trying to reach Sandhagen with powerful punches, and was very decisive in that intention.

On the other side, the American mixed punches and kicks, not allowing the opponent to create a swing or catch the momentum. The second round was a bit different, and after the same start, Sandhagen blasted a few strikes that shook Moraes, with one kick doing damage to the area around his right eye.

Not long after that, the Sandman unleashed a vicious spinning wheel kick, that sent the former challenger to the canvas and practically solved the battle.

After losing to Aljamain Sterling at the UFC 250 in June, Sandhagen’s stocks dropped, but this win makes him one of the possible title contenders in the near future. Yet, he first needs to wait and see what happens with the champ, Petr Yan and Sterling, who is the No.1 contender now. If the two arrange a fight, Sandhagen already has a plan B.

“The only other two other guys that have an argument are Frankie (Edgar) and T.J. (Dillashaw). Maybe I fight one of those guys before they end up fighting each other,” he said, when adding who else could be in the combination for the title shot.

Edgar recently defeated Pedro Munhoz after a split decision in his bantamweight debut. Dillashaw didn’t compete since January 2019 and his loss to Henry Cejudo in the bout for the UFC flyweight title. He was tested positive for EPO before and after that match.

THIS IS ONE OF THE CRAZIEST KNOCKOUTS YOU WILL EVER SEE! 💥

TAKE A BOW, JOAQUIN BUCKLEY! 👏#UFCFightIsland5 pic.twitter.com/NOfad1hdD2

— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) October 10, 2020

As for Moraes, the Brazilian now has to work very hard to come back into the combination of receiving another title shot. He blew his only attempt against Henry Cejudo and hoped to get another after defeating Jose Aldo. The UFC picked his compatriots instead, to face Yan, who would routinely beat the veteran.

The Magic, who was the No.2 in the bantamweight rankings, will surely slip down from that spot.

In other matches of the night, Edson Barboza took down Makwan Amirkhani with a unanimous decision, Marcin Tybura beat Ben Rothwell in the same way.

We need to mention Joaquin Buckley and his superb knockout that demolished Impa Kasanganay. With one leg caught by his opponent, Buckley decided to make a flying wheel head kick, that obliterated Kasanganay.

It is arguably the best KO of the entire year, and will definitely be in the combination for that.