Cory Sandhagen became a top contender to the UFC bantamweight title after defeating Marlon Moraes at UFC Fight Island 5, but he believes Aljamain Sterling is more deserving of a title shot.
The no. 4 bantamweight believes that Sterling should be next for Petr Yan, but he would still accept a title shot if it were offered.
“I would feel really bad if they did me and Yan and did that to Sterling,” Sandhagen said during the post-fight press conference (via Damon Martin of MMA Fighting). “That said, it’s a dog-eat-dog sport, so if they give me that shot, I’m taking that shot. But I think it should be Sterling and Yan.”
Sterling’s last fight came against Sandhagen and Sterling won that bout by first-round submission at UFC 250 in June of 2020. Sandhagen says that he’ll stay ready in case either Yan or Sterling can’t fight for the bantamweight title.
“When that gets booked, honestly, I’ve been doing that for a year or two now,” Sandhagen said. “Where it’s like this is a big fight coming up, I don’t have a fight coming up, I’m going to keep my weight low and I’m going to stay ready. I’ve been doing that in camp. I’ve been doing it almost the whole time I’ve been in the UFC. I’m definitely going to do that of course now, because I think that I’m probably the No. 1 guy if one of those guys gets hurt.”
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