Cory Sandhagen doesn’t dwell previously, however he can’t assist feeling regrets about how his most up-to-date battle towards Umar Nurmagomedov performed out.
He finally misplaced a unanimous choice to the adorned Russian bantamweight, and as a lot as Sandhagen credit Nurmagomedov for a job nicely completed, he additionally blames the person within the mirror for what went fallacious that evening. In his opinion, Sandhagen believes he basically overthought his sport plan and technique moderately than simply reacting to what was occurring within the octagon that evening.
“The me and Umar battle, I really feel like frustration misplaced me that battle a bit bit,” Sandhagen defined when talking to MMA Combating. “I sort of went in with the framework, and with the attitude, that he was going to be very laborious to hit. As an alternative of simply being like ‘Oh that’s one thing to count on,’ it pissed off me extra as a result of I used to be like, however I’ve skilled so laborious in an effort to make it so I can hit a tough man and because it’s nonetheless not working, it’s making me pissed off. It sort of spiraled from there.
“I feel any time that you simply get away out of your true, pure means of profitable, issues normally don’t go nicely towards the highest guys on the planet. I feel I sort of overcorrected in that battle in that I knew that the purpose scoring was going to be shut. I do know that if anybody takes me down on the planet, I can rise up. I’m assured in [that]. So I knew that was going to sort of cancel one another out. I knew that a number of the battle was going to be decided by who landed the extra vital photographs, at the least that’s what I assumed that it will be.”
Sandhagen is aware of that he didn’t have interaction with Nurmagomedov in a means that might permit him to grab on openings that had been offered in the course of the battle, which value him ultimately.
“The place I ought to have simply run my regular sport plan of fine martial arts till they make a mistake after which soar on them as an alternative of half-good martial arts and forcing issues that aren’t there,” Sandhagen mentioned. “As a result of forcing issues that aren’t there towards good guys simply flat out doesn’t work. So frustration sort of misplaced me that one.
“I’m nonetheless kicking myself within the butt as a result of after I watch that, as a result of even thought it was scored 4 [rounds] to 1 or one thing like that, all of these rounds had been actually shut. If I might have simply completed a few issues in another way, I’d have gained. That’s the story of mine. I’m actually good at virtually profitable these fights so I’ve bought to determine learn how to truly get these shut rounds bagged. That’s what I’ve been engaged on.”
If there’s one optimistic to return away from such a unfavourable loss, it’s that Sandhagen has taken upon himself to make sure he doesn’t find yourself with one other consequence like that on his resume.
He’s booked to face Deiveson Figueiredo within the UFC Des Moines primary occasion on Might 3, and Sandhagen guarantees there’s no holding again on this battle.
“I feel that I’m actually going to problem myself to exit and put a stamp on this factor,” Sandhagen mentioned. “I’ve been coaching to dominate folks. I skilled my ass off in between the 2 fights with Trevor [Wittman], driving all the best way as much as Golden to go to his health club to work with him after which actually dialing in a number of the grappling stuff that I’ve been doing with my wrestling coach after which with my jiu-jitsu coach.
“I really feel like a number of issues have actually come collectively as a result of I’ve been busting my ass as a result of I f*cking hate dropping. I’m tremendous stoked to go on the market and actually have the ability to shine.”
The way in which Sandhagen feels going into his upcoming battle is that he hasn’t actually placed on a very memorable efficiency in a few years, which is clearly disappointing.
That solely provides gas to the fireplace in relation to Sandhagen’s need to essentially placed on a present towards Figueiredo and erase some unhealthy recollections from latest performances.
“I haven’t had a superb win in a extremely very long time,” Sandhagen mentioned. “My final win was [against Rob Font] after I tore my tricep and everybody shit on me for it. Earlier than that it was Chito [Vera], and my ego misses the sensation of being the person for a few weeks on the planet of MMA. I’m hoping to get that again for at the least a bit bit.”
As if he wanted any extra motivation, Sandhagen is aware of his battle takes place virtually precisely one month previous to the bantamweight title rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley. If he’s in a position to do what he’s planning on doing, Sandhagen expects that serves discover to the UFC that he’s the subsequent man up for the title shot.
“I can’t let you know how excited I’m,” Sandhagen mentioned. “I simply actually wish to shine, and I feel that I’m a ok performer now the place I can actually simply exit and do my rattling factor now. I’m not going to let something cease me on this one. I’m undoubtedly I feel I’m going to have the ability to end Figueiredo. I feel that I’m going to point out up one of the best model that I’ve ever been.
“I feel that I’m going to appear like an actual champion in there to the purpose the place the UFC goes to have to present me a shot after this one, simply with how spectacular I plan on trying. I’m pumped.”