The “Suga Show” versus the “Sandman” is a fight that seemed to slowly fade away for fight fans over the years, a captivating matchup that would appeal to both casual and hardcore fans. Both display an arsenal of high-level combinations and unique striking ability in the bantamweight division, and both possess underrated grappling respectfully. The bout would have made for a high-level and entertaining fight as two of the best strikers in the division go head to head. O’Malley previously defended his title against Chito Vera as opposed to Sandhagen, who at the time appeared to be the most deserving contender after displaying an impressive win streak. Both suffered almost dominant defeats at the hands of two of the division’s most adept wrestlers, showcasing similar holes in their styles. Despite these defeats, now seems like the perfect opportunity to revitalise this potential matchup and for one to get back into title contention and the fans can potentially view the most technical fight in the UFC today.
The fight makes sense for a plethora of reasons, the obvious being it is two fighters at the top of the division both coming off a devastating loss, and another reason being the thrilling style matchup it can deliver. It would be highly anticipated in the MMA landscape due to their skillsets and perfect for a co-main of a PPV. O’Malley is known for his unorthodox striking style, including a mix of kicks and accurate power punches with a unique ability to create angles. His boxing and kickboxing background has helped him to develop into a dynamic striker who has demonstrated knockout power and pinpoint accuracy on many occasions, often finishing fights with highlight-reel knockouts. O’Malley’s confidence plays an imperative role in his fights, as is shown in his strategy, engaging in stand-up battles that showcase his precision and creativity.
Sandhagen is also a highly unique and technical fighter, known for his movement, footwork and ability to adapt during the fight. He utilises an array of spinning strikes and flying knees that create thrilling knockouts similar to O’Malley, but he often out-strikes his opponents or out-points them to a dominant decision. Like O’Malley, Cory has notable precision and great timing but often targets vulnerable areas of his opponents like the body. Sandhagens exceptional footwork allows him to maintain distance and evade strikes, similar to Dominic Cruz but an almost more refined and modern version. Both use slick footwork, unlike most fighters on the roster. Cory’s ability to move in and out of range helps him create compromising angles for his attacks whilst minimising the potential of being hit.
Both fighters demonstrate high fight IQ, especially Sandhagen who has adjusted during fights based on his opponents’ style. Both fighters possess conditioning that allows them to maintain a high pace over five rounds, which is crucial for fighters who rely heavily on striking in later rounds. Their endurance allows them to overwhelm or outlast opponents. Their striking prowess is ultimately a combination of strategic thinking, physical conditioning and technical skill, making them formidable opponents to each other. Both fighters fought entertaining and high-level bouts with Petr Yan, with Sean getting a controversial win over Yan, and Cory losing by decision, however displaying one of the most technical fights in the modern UFC era. Sean made it messy with Yan, but had many moments of technical brilliance, as did Yan, and displayed great grappling defence.
Their experience fighting someone as exceptional and tactical as Yan would help them adapt strategies against each other leading to a high-level fight. With the Yan fight as a reference, you could make an educated assumption that they would employ sophisticated movement and footwork to evade strikes and create angles, leading to the fight being more about technique than power. Their experiences against Yan enhance their understanding of when to engage and both have shown the ability to counter effectively against high-level opposition. As fans, we can picture the strategic approach given their backgrounds and a fight that is focused on using feints and setting traps rather than sole aggression. This highly anticipated matchup is now more likely than ever and I certainly think makes the most sense for both fighters. This is a fight that could be studied by striking coaches in the future and one the UFC surely has to put together soon.
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