The much anticipated Cory Sandhagen vs TJ Dillashaw fight has been rescheduled. The bantamweight match-up will act as the main event of the UFC Fight Night card on July 24th.
It should be noted that the contracts for the aforementioned fight are yet to be signed. However, UFC is trying to speed up the process.
The Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw bout was initially scheduled on UFC on ESPN 24 (May 8th, 2021). However, Dillashaw suffered a cut above his eyebrow during training camp.
He announced on April 27th, 2021, that he was forced to withdraw from the fight due to the cut. He was injured after being hit with a headbutt during exercise. Their fight was cancelled due to the possibility of the cut reopening.
The UFC announced that the Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw fight slot will remain intact.
The fight was rescheduled. After a few weeks of rumours, new dates have surfaced.
Winner likely to qualify
Sandhagen is ranked No. 2 in the UFC’s bantamweight division. ‘The Sandman’ has only lost twice in his professional MMA career. His first defeat came outside of the UFC while his second came in the form of a submission loss to Aljamain Sterling.
Sandhagen is currently on a two-fight winning streak with his most recent victory over Frankie Edgar in the first round at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov (February 6th, 2021).
Dillashaw’s most recent fight was a first-round TKO loss to Henry Cejudo in a UFC flyweight title fight at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw (January 19th, 2019). In pre-fight and post-fight drug screening, Dillashaw tested positive for EPO.
Following that, he got a two-year probation as well as the loss of his UFC bantamweight belt. On January 19th, 2021, Dillashaw became qualified to fight in pro-MMA for the first time and he’s been working hard to get back into the octagon ever since.
Read more: “We live to fight another day”: Michael Bisping reminds Cody Garbrandt that his time will come