Will he or will he not? Doubts continue to confound diehards. Apprehensions linger: will Cory Sandhagen finally end The Machine’s spell? At UFC 320, where Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira meet in a headline rematch, scores of fans will wait with bated breath to watch the co-main event. Will Sandhagen make history by wresting the bantamweight belt from Merab Dvalishvili?

The Georgian has already made his intentions clear. In this clash of styles—an ace grappler versus a formidable striker—he plans to flip the script and repay Sandhagen in kind: strike The Sandman before he strikes you. But is it as easy as it sounds? With nearly half of his 18 wins coming by knockout, Cory Sandhagen remains one of MMA’s most dangerous finishers. Landing an average of five strikes per minute, he has the power to derail Dvalishvili’s plan. And to remind everyone of the kind of damage Sandhagen can unleash inside the cage, we decided to pull together some of his most memorable moments, proofs of why his bouts are among the most exciting to watch in the UFC today.

The knee that silenced Frankie Edgar

When talking about Cory Sandhagen’s finishes, one moment instantly comes to mind. In his UFC debut, he overwhelmed Austin Arnett with sharp body shots and knees to secure a second-round victory. But perhaps the strike most synonymous with Sandhagen’s name is the flying knee that floored former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.

That loss, in a way, marked the beginning of Edgar’s UFC exit. The bout opened with Sandhagen circling the octagon while Edgar pressed forward with his trademark aggression. By refusing to stay stationary, Sandhagen blunted the wrestler’s attack. Just thirty seconds into the first round, Edgar shot for a takedown. But Sandhagen leaped and caught him flush with a right knee. Edgar was out cold.

The highlight-reel knockout earned Sandhagen the Performance of the Night bonus.

Wheel of Fury: Cory Sandhagen’s spinning finish

Before fully announcing himself on the big stage, Sandhagen had already offered a glimpse of his brilliance in his fight against Brazilian contender Marlon Moraes. The two headlined the Fight Night in Abu Dhabi on October 10, 2020.

In trademark fashion, Sandhagen moved fluidly around the cage, countering Moraes’ strikes with crisp returns. The fight reached the second round, and at the center of the octagon, Sandhagen suddenly pulled back, created space, and unleashed a spinning wheel kick that landed neatly on Moraes’ face, knocking him down instantly.

For anyone who thought Sandhagen relied solely on striking flash, this was a reminder of his precision, timing, and creativity.

The escape that stunned everyone

Merab Dvalishvili might believe he can out-strike Sandhagen. Or, if needed, fall back on his wrestling to secure a submission. But he’d do well to revisit what Sandhagen did back in 2018. Newly minted on the UFC roster, Sandhagen faced Brazilian veteran Iuri Alcntara on the Gaethje vs. Vick card. The fight, which earned Fight of the Night honors, ended in a second-round TKO win for Sandhagen. But it’s best remembered for his stunning defensive display.

Just thirty seconds into the first round, Alcntara caught Sandhagen in a triangle choke while holding an armbar. Unfazed, Sandhagen stayed composed, refusing to tap even as Alcantara landed strikes. Gradually, he maneuvered his body to loosen the grip. Then he used his heels to roll and break free from the choke. Sandhagen thus turned a near-fight-ending submission into a comeback victory.

That escape showcased Sandhagen’s resilience, flexibility, and tactical grappling. These are qualities that define his style as much as his striking.

Fans will be watching closely tonight to see whether Cory Sandhagen can once again blend precision, creativity, and grit to overcome one of MMA’s toughest ground specialists.

Do you think Sandhagen will defeat Dvalishvili?