Cory Sandhagen delivered a brutal striking performance against returning former champ and drug cheat TJ Dillashaw last week. In a post-fight interview, Sandhagen echoed the feelings of many viewers, expressing disbelief that Dillashaw had won the split decision.
Cory Sandhagen was critical of TJ Dillashaw’s less-than-technical approach to the fight, telling Megan Olivi:
Sandhagen doesn’t want to be a “little whiny baby”, but…
“I don’t think you get to be a zombie, march forward, eat a bunch of shots and then still win in MMA. I think that we’re past that.
But like I said, I don’t want to be a little whiny baby. I’m going to take it. I’m going get better from it. That’s what I’m going to do. I’m still going to win the world championship. Hopefully still next year.”
Sandhagen continued: “I was picking him apart. I was landing some hard shots. I had him wobbled a number of times. I didn’t feel hurt at all, even the leg kicks. My leg is completely fine. There’s nothing wrong with my leg.
I shut down most of his shots. I got off the cage. He grips hard and I was wearing on his grip and eventually it broke and I was getting off. So I don’t know.”
A cursory look at the two fighters after the bout does not disagree with Sandhagen’s assessment. Cory looked fresh-faced, if exhausted, while Dillashaw was bleeding profusely from a cut right above his eye. Sandhagen was on a path to the Bantamweight title, and hopes that this fight won’t derail his plans. Either way, Cory Sandhagen learned a valuable lesson about leaving fights in the hands of the judges.
He continued: ““I know I had him hurt more times than me. I think I was landing the way cleaner shots. I was picking him apart but I guess I should have done more. That’s on me.
I told myself I was winning the fifth round. I thought that I did. I don’t know. What can you do? I thought I made really good adjustments as the fight was going on.
What can you do? I guess I’ll learn from it and I’ll still be world champ. I’ll still do all the things I said I was going to do, I’ve just got to learn and get better I guess.”
Do you agree with the judging last night? Did TJ Dillashaw do enough to earn this win, or is Cory Sandhagen right? Let us know in the comments.
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