The former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw meets the No.2 in the current rankings, Cory Sandhagen, in his first match after a two-year doping suspension. The winner of this battle is expected to have a shot at the title and the winner of the Yan vs. Sterling bout. Despite not competing for a long time, Dillashaw is still one of the biggest names in the UFC.
Cory Sandhagen's Vicious Spinning Wheel Kick KO's Marlon "Magic" Moraes
Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw PreviewCory Sandhagen (14-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) – 155
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Sandman is one of the biggest contenders for the title belt in the bantamweight division. He lost to Aljamain Sterlin last year, but bounced back with two fantastic victories. He would first KO Marlon “Magic” Moraes with a spinning heel, and after that, Frankie Edgar, trashing the former lightweight champ with a flying knee.
Sandhagen is one explosive and very energetic fighter whose attractive performances in the ring have made him a fan favorite. The 29-year old has a variety of punches and kicks in his arsenal and isn’t afraid to use that against any opponent that stands across the octagon.
TJ Dillashaw (16-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) +130
Didn’t fight for two years, and we currently don’t know his physical condition. His last battle was against Henry Cejudo for the UFC flyweight title, and then he suffered a surprising KO after Cejudo caught him napping. After that came the results of his doping tests, which were positive, and Dillashaw had to take a two-year pause from UFC.
Dillashaw is very fast, and his movement in the cage is fantastic. He is almost uncatchable for the rivals and their takedown attempts, while on the other hand, the former champion uses his quick feet to attack the opponents and drag them into a wrestling fight. That is where he holds a notable advantage over the majority of the rivals in the division.
Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw PickThese two fighters are very quick, and usually, their battles are high-intensity clashes in which they have the leading roles. That is why it is reasonable to expect a very interesting battle on Saturday night, which won’t see the end of all five rounds.
The respective percentage of Sandhagen’s and Dillashaw’s fights that didn’t see the decision is very high. Taking that into consideration and their style, the best pick for this event is a fight not going to the distance.
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-->Pick: Fight not going to the distance