Cory Sandhagen, a prominent UFC fighter, recently shared his thoughts on being passed up for a title fight against champion Sean O’Malley. Sandhagen, who recently scored a lopsided win over Rob Font at UFC on ESPN 50, expressed his understanding of the situation, acknowledging that his last fight didn’t generate much excitement.

Speaking on the JAXXON PODCAST, Sandhagen emphasized the importance of delivering an exciting and crowd-pleasing performance in the world of UFC, where fighters are often judged based on their most recent fights. Despite his impressive victory over Font, Sandhagen believes that his injury and the lack of hype surrounding his last fight may have contributed to him being overlooked for a title shot.

While Sandhagen understands the UFC’s emphasis on the product a fighter puts out during a match, he also expressed his belief that the level of excitement and the ability to finish opponents are crucial factors that the UFC values the most.

Discussing the upcoming title fight between O’Malley and Marlon Vera, Sandhagen provided insights into the matchup, suggesting that Vera’s history with O’Malley may have played a role in securing the title shot. Despite giving Vera a tough time in their previous encounter, Sandhagen doesn’t believe O’Malley will have an easy victory against him, citing Vera’s unique fighting style and ability to capitalize on opportunities.

Looking ahead, Sandhagen expressed his thoughts on the potential competitiveness of the O’Malley-Vera fight, highlighting Vera’s strategic approach and quick, powerful strikes as factors that could pose challenges for O’Malley. He also raised questions about O’Malley’s durability, indicating that the upcoming title fight might be closer than anticipated.

As the UFC community eagerly anticipates the upcoming event, Sandhagen’s insights provide a compelling perspective on the dynamics of the title fight and the factors that could influence its outcome.