Cory Sandhagen’s recent victory has put him in contention for the bantamweight title. After the fight, Sandhagen penned a heartfelt message to fans, which caught Chuck Norris’ attention.
What Did Chuck Norris Say After Cory Sandhagen’s Victory?
In his latest fight at UFC Des Moines, Sandhagen defeated Deiveson Figueiredo by third-round TKO. The main event saw both fighters tangle their legs during a grappling exchange, and Figueiredo suffered a leg injury that forced the referee to step in and stop the fight.
Sandhagen took to Instagram to post a message following his win. In the post, “Sandman” expressed gratitude to fans and his opponent and highlighted the dominant nature of the performance. He also remained humble, acknowledging both the wins and losses in his journey.
Many big names reacted in the comments, including Chuck Norris. “What a performance! Congratulations, my friend,” Norris wrote.
The 85-year-old action star is also a longtime martial artist. He holds black belts in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo.
Umar Nurmagomedov also left a comment. The bantamweight standout previously defeated Sandhagen before suffering his first professional loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311.
“Congrats,” Nurmagomedov wrote.
Nurmagomedov and Sandhagen fought in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi in August. They were initially set to headline UFC Nashville a year earlier, but the Russian withdrew due to a shoulder injury. Rob Font stepped in on short notice and lost to Sandhagen in a catchweight bout.
Cory Sandhagen Shares Thoughts After Defeating Deiveson Figueiredo
At UFC Des Moines, Sandhagen had acclaimed coach Trevor Wittman and grappling ace Ryan Hall in his corner. Sandhagen credited training with Hall—especially in leg lock positions—for giving him the edge that ultimately led to Figueiredo’s injury.
Speaking on the ESPN post-fight show, Sandhagen told Dan Hellie, “I do a lot of grappling with Ryan Hall, who’s, like, invented the 50/50 position, and that’s where the knee popped. It popped the same way that it popped against TJ. Uh, if you don’t know how to play out that position, which most, most people don’t, you’re going to pop your knee.”
As for what’s next, Sandhagen said he has no preference. The bantamweight title is on the line next month when champion Merab Dvalishvili rematches Sean O’Malley, and “Sandman” believes he’s in prime position to face the winner.
The 33-year-old acknowledged that Petr Yan could also make a case, but pointed out that Yan went five rounds with Figueiredo, while he secured a finish.