Cory Sandhagen doesn’t reside up to now, however he can’t assist feeling regrets about how his most up-to-date battle in opposition to Umar Nurmagomedov performed out.
He in the end misplaced a unanimous resolution to the embellished Russian bantamweight, and as a lot as Sandhagen credit Nurmagomedov for a job nicely carried out, he additionally blames the person within the mirror for what went mistaken that night time. In his opinion, Sandhagen believes he primarily overthought his recreation plan and technique reasonably than simply reacting to what was taking place within the octagon that night time.
“The me and Umar battle, I really feel like frustration misplaced me that battle a little bit bit,” Sandhagen defined when talking to MMA Preventing. “I sort of went in with the framework, and with the attitude, that he was going to be very exhausting to hit. As an alternative of simply being like ‘Oh that’s one thing to anticipate,’ it annoyed me extra as a result of I used to be like, however I’ve skilled so exhausting in an effort to make it so I can hit a troublesome man and because it’s nonetheless not working, it’s making me annoyed. It sort of spiraled from there.
“I believe any time that you just get away out of your true, pure means of profitable, issues normally don’t go nicely in opposition to the highest guys on the planet. I believe 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 arise. I’m assured in [that]. So I knew that was going to sort of cancel one another out. I knew that a whole lot of the battle was going to be decided by who landed the extra important pictures, at the very least that’s what I assumed that it might be.”
Sandhagen is aware of that he didn’t interact with Nurmagomedov in a means that may enable him to grab on openings that had been offered in the course of the battle, which price him ultimately.
“The place I ought to have simply run my regular recreation plan of excellent martial arts till they make a mistake after which leap on them as a substitute of half-good martial arts and forcing issues that aren’t there,” Sandhagen mentioned. “As a result of forcing issues that aren’t there in opposition to 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 once 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 carried out a few issues in a different way, I’d have received. That’s the story of mine. I’m actually good at nearly profitable these fights so I’ve received to determine tips on how to truly get these shut rounds bagged. That’s what I’ve been engaged on.”
If there’s one constructive to come back 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 principal occasion on Could 3, and Sandhagen guarantees there’s no holding again on this battle.
“I believe 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 individuals. I skilled my ass off in between the 2 fights with Trevor [Wittman], driving all the way in which as much as Golden to go to his health club to work with him after which actually dialing in a whole lot 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 whole lot of issues have actually come collectively as a result of I’ve been busting my ass as a result of I f*cking hate shedding. 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 really memorable efficiency in a few years, which is clearly disappointing.
That solely provides gasoline to the fireplace relating to Sandhagen’s need to essentially placed on a present in opposition to Figueiredo and erase some dangerous recollections from current performances.
“I haven’t had a very good win in a extremely very long time,” Sandhagen mentioned. “My final win was [against Rob Font] once 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 very least a little bit bit.”
As if he wanted any extra motivation, Sandhagen is aware of his battle takes place nearly precisely one month previous to the bantamweight title rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley. If he’s capable of do what he’s planning on doing, Sandhagen expects that serves discover to the UFC that he’s the following man up for the title shot.
“I can’t let you know how excited I’m,” Sandhagen mentioned. “I simply actually need to shine, and I believe 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 believe I’m going to have the ability to end Figueiredo. I believe that I’m going to point out up the most effective model that I’ve ever been.
“I believe that I’m going to appear to be 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.”
