Cory Sandhagen earns biggest win of his career, TKOs Marlon Moraes
Cory Sandhagen got over the disappointment of his loss against Aljamain Sterling in spectacular fashion on Fight Island Saturday night against number one-ranked Marlon Moraes.
The Coloradan targeted Moraes’ legs in the early going, throwing efficient calf kicks to try and halt the Brazilian’s explosive movements and stifle his punching power. Unperturbed by those kicks, Moraes looked to head hunt with big hooks and overhands. Neither man strayed from their gameplan until Moraes successfully scored a takedown off a Sandhagen bodykick.
Sandhagen looked confident in the second round as he probed Moraes’ defences with punches and kicks, going on to shout “His orbital’s broke” to his corner after assessing the damage he inflicted on his foe.
Things took a turn for the better for the American when he feinted a jab and uncorked an unexpectedly-brilliant spinning wheel kick which clipped the head of a retreating Moraes, who promptly dropped to his knees.
Sandhagen smelled blood and “The Sandman” looked to put Moraes to sleep with a string of punches down on the mat. He got his wish as referee Marc Goddard called a stop the the fight.
Superb performance from Sandhagen as he scored the biggest victory of his career in style.
Edson Barboza makes it second time lucky at featherweight with win over Makwan Amirkhani
For the first time in almost two years, Edson Barboza emerged from the Octagon in the win column.
Barboza’s striking looked sharp as ever and he seemed to be too powerful for his late-notice opponent Makwan Amirkhani.
A quiet opening round of each fighter sizing up their opponent, Amirkhani scored a takedown late in the first round but could do little with it.
Barboza upped his output in the second round. He floored the Finn twice in the middle stanza with two big right hands. Amirkhani’s gameplan was clear in that he wanted to take the Brazilian down – and he did once again towards the end of that round – but momentum was clearly swinging in Barboza’s favour rather than his beaten and battered foe.
Amirkhani took the Brazilian down again in the third round and this time he had a lot of the fight left remaining. However, referee Kevin Sataki brought the fighters back up to their feet after Barboza expertly nullified any of Amirkhani’s advances on the ground.
Barboza finished the fight landing strikes with power and ease and was rightly awarded the unanimous decision after three rounds of action.
UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen full results
Bantamweight: Cory Sandhagen def. Marlon Moraes by TKO (spinning wheel kick and punches) at 1:03 of round two
Featherweight: Edson Barboza def. Makwan Amirkhani by unanimous decision after three rounds
Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura def. Ben Rothwell by unanimous decision after three rounds
Middleweight: Dricus du Plessis def. Markus Perez by KO (punches) at 3:22 of round one
Heavyweight: Tom Aspinall def. Alan Baudot by TKO (elbows and punches) at 1:35 of round one
Featherweight: llia Topuria def. Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision after three rounds
Middleweight: Tom Breese def. KB Bhullar by TKO (punches) at 1:42 of round one
Heavyweight: Chris Daukaus def. Rodrigo Nascimento by KO (punches) at 0:45 of round one
Middleweight: Joaquin Buckley def. Impa Kasanganay by KO (jump spinning back kick) at 2:03 of round two
Bantamweight: Tony Kelley def. Ali AlQaisi by unanimous decision after three rounds
Featherweight: Giga Chikadze def. Omar Morales by unanimous decision after three rounds
Women’s Bantamweight: Tracy Cortez def. Stephanie Egger by unanimous decision after three rounds
Flyweight: Tagir Ulanbekov def. Bruno Gustavo da Silva by unanimous decision after three rounds