Cory Sandhagen is determined to get a UFC title shot in 2025, and it starts with a UFC on ESPN 67 main event win over Deiveson Figueiredo.
After dropping a unanimous decision to Umar Nurmagomedov in a bantamweight title eliminator in August, Sandhagen (17-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) will attempt to put himself back on the contender path against Figueiredo (24-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC) in the headliner of the May 3 event at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa (ESPN2, ESPN+).
With expectations that 135-pound champ Merab Dvalishvili will rematch Sean O’Malley in his next defense, Sandhagen is looking at his upcoming fight as a prime opportunity to make a statement. He is one of the highly ranked names who hasn’t fought either man, and Sandhagen thinks there would be fan desire to see him fight Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC) or O’Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) for gold if he performs in the manner he anticipates.
