Cory Sandhagen returned to the win column in a big way on Saturday as he scored a fourth-round doctor stoppage win over Song Yadong in the main event of UFC Vegas 60.
“The Sandman” was coming off back-to-back losses to Petr Yan for the interim title and TJ Dillashaw, and was facing Yadong who was ranked well below him. Early on, the fight was competitive. After the second round, however, Sandhagen began to take over, ultimately beating Yadong by doctor stoppage due to a nasty cut.
After the win, Sandhagen called out Marlon Vera or Merab Dvalishvili for his next fight, as he wants to work his way up to the top of the division.
Marlon Vera and Merab Dvalishvili As Next Opponents for Cory Sandhagen
“No, not really,” Sandhagen said regarding his next fight after the win. “I think as a martial artist, I try not to have many opinions about anything.”
“I live in a way where I just more or less try to go with the flow and that life give me opportunities, and I take them. Chito and Merab are the obvious names. Both of them pose very different challenges, two completely opposite fighters almost. I don’t really care man. Give me one of them for Christmas.”
Shortly after the callouts, Vera – who was at the UFC Apex – was tracked down by the UFC’s social team and he immediately accepted the callout.
Both Potential Opponents Have Accepted the Challenge
“If he wants it, he can get it,” Vera said to the UFC. “I’m not shying away from any fight.”
“I’m a fighter, I’ll fight anybody, I want to be a world champion. If I want to get there and get the belt, I don’t run away from no one. If he wants it, he can get it — or, I don’t know, whatever the f*** the UFC wants. I’m ready to go right now.”
Dvalishvili, meanwhile, took to social media to also accept Sandhagen’s callout.
“My answer is yes of course,” Dvalishvili tweeted. “Let’s go.”
My answer is yes of course. Let’s go 🦾 https://t.co/tA6mLlrPEl
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) September 18, 2022
At this time, it’s uncertain who the UFC will pick as Sandhagen’s next opponent, but both Vera and Dvalishvili make sense. Either contest could also serve as a Fight Night main event, but Sandhagen now has options for his next outing.
