Cory Sandhagen faces Mario Bautista in a rematch seven years after their first meeting. Sandhagen believes both fighters have improved and expects a tough contest. He dismisses Bautista’s claims of a wrestling edge, noting his own quick recoveries from takedowns compared to Bautista’s past struggles. Sandhagen identifies Bautista’s work ethic and resilience as key strengths and plans to counter them with superior technique and effort. He prefers decisive wins but adapts based on the opponent. Reflecting on his recent title loss, Sandhagen cites technical errors and a poor second round as factors that can be corrected. He views Bautista as an established fighter rather than a newcomer and sees himself as more experienced. If victorious, Sandhagen believes a bout with Sean O’Malley would be the logical next step, though he remains open to other options.
