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“Nothing but Respect for Him”: Despite Being Accused of Walking Out of His Fight, Dana White Heaps Praises on “F***ing Stud” Cory Sandhagen’s Performance at UFC Nashville

Published 08/09/2023, 3:01 AM EDT

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Dana White made headlines after walking out during the main event of UFC on ESPN 50 in Nashville. Many people claimed that the bout between Cory Sandhagen and Rob Font was a lackluster one. Meanwhile, the UFC president recently appeared in an interview and addressed ‘The Sandman’s performance last weekend.

Cory Sandhagen showcased a dominating performance at Nashville last weekend. His opponent, Rob Font, just came off a win at UFC 287 but failed to extend his streak to two consecutive wins. ‘The Sandman’ showcased a great ground game that rendered Font helpless throughout the entire five rounds. Now, Dana White has opened up about the fight in a recent interview with ‘Sports Illustrated’.

Dana White commends Cory Sandhagen for fighting through injury

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During his interview, Dana White was asked about how people are talking about the main event in Nashville being a boring one despite Sandhagen showcasing his BJJ prowess. The 53-year-old promoter mentioned that ‘The Sandman’ was already hurt at the beginning of the fight. White said, “For the record, Cory Sandhagen tore his tricep off the bone in the first round of that fight.”

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Dana White had nothing but praise for Cory Sandhagen for continuing to fight despite his injury against a not-so-easy opponent. He commended the 4th-ranked bantamweight for finishing the fight. Dana White added, “The fact that the kid fought is incredible. He’s a f***ing stud.” Moreover, the UFC president mentioned how Sandhagen had to prepare for a new opponent on short notice.

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UFC president praises Sandhagen for his willingness to fight anyone

Cory Sandhagen was initially set to face Umar Nurmagomedov. However, the latter pulled out of the fight due to an injury which resulted in Rob Font becoming ‘The Sandman’s replacement opponent. Dana White said, “He lost an opponent [Umar Nurmagomedov], then took Rob Font, who’s a f***ing machine on his feet.”

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Sandhagen is currently ranked 4th in the bantamweight rankings. At such a position in the rankings, most fighters aim to fight for the title and protect themselves from fighting unnecessary opponents. However, Sandhagen didn’t hesitate to take on Rob Font. That impressed Dana White. “Props to the kid for being willing to take any opponent, especially with where he’s in the rankings. Nothing but respect for him,” said the UFC president.

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It seems like there is no animosity between the bantamweight fighter and Dana White. Despite his walking out of the arena during the main event, White still considers Sandhagen a top bantamweight contender. We will have to wait and see what’s next for ‘The Sandman’ after he returns from injury.

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Written by:

Himanga Mahanta

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Himanga Mahanta is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. He has a passion for combat sports and a deep understanding of the intricacies of MMA. With his expertise and extensive knowledge, Himanga provides in-depth coverage of UFC events and fighters, bringing his readers closer to the action and the athletes they admire.
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Edited by:

Rupkamal Sarma