Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Cory Sandhagen wanted to make a statement against Marlon Moraes at UFC Fight Island 5, and he did all that and more.
After losing the No. 1 contender spot to Aljamain Sterling in his previous fight, Sandhagen delivered a pitch-perfect performance that ended with a spectacular wheel-kick knockout at the 1:03 mark of the second round.
On a night filled with highlight-reel stoppages, including possibly the “Knockout of the Year” (and maybe best UFC knockout ever), Sandhagen ended Saturday’s event on Fight Island with another high note.
Here’s what pros had to say about UFC Fight Island 5
Corey Sandhagen def. Marlon Moraes
This is about to be some high level mma right now
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) October 11, 2020
Good Bantamweight #mainevent between these two guys right here #UFCFightIsland5 -I know first hand-
— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) October 11, 2020
Level of skills in this fight it’s super high#UFCFightIsland5
— Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori) October 11, 2020
This matchup is what’s so crazy about this sport. Both guys can do everything, both guys are dangerous everywhere. This one is gonna be fun. #UFCFightIsland5
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) October 11, 2020
What a technical fight! #UFCFightIsland5
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) October 11, 2020
Round 1 Sandhagen. Tough feints to deal with. Moraes having a tough time getting inside but landed a few good significant strikes. Let’s go fellas! #UFCFightIsland5
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 11, 2020
Ohhhhhh!!!!!! #UFCFightIsland5
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) October 11, 2020
LET’S GOOOO!!! HELL YEA CORY!!! You a fucking animal!! #UFCFightIsland5
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 11, 2020
Sandhagen was on point tonight man. Sharp every second. Arrousal continuum #UFCFightIsland5
— Baldy Ed (@brianboom135) October 11, 2020
What a finish for Sandhagan!!! #UFCFightIsland
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) October 11, 2020
Nice kick!! #UFCFightIsland5
— Edmen Shahbazyan (@edmenshahbazyan) October 11, 2020
What a cute finsh! @funkmasterMMA you official been skip! @danawhite
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) October 11, 2020
If ya 25c ass don’t shut up and go away already and let the non-retired fighters fight https://t.co/cdSb4a7Vz2
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 11, 2020
Hey @danawhite, I’m waiting for your chicken in December. Give me your chicken or coming for dat ! #PAUSE! @PetrYanUFC #PaprChamp
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 11, 2020
Edson Barboza def. Makwan Amirkhani
Sucks to not be a part of this. Still a good match up though
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) October 11, 2020
That body kick hurt me!
— Jalin Turner (@JalinTurner) October 11, 2020
A laser beam to the face!! #UFCFightIsland5
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) October 11, 2020
Barboza’s new hairdo is giving him that extra-extra swag tn! #UFCFightIsland5 #FreshAF
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 11, 2020
God, I hate this ref!! Mind ya business! Madd annoying #UFCFightIsland5
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 11, 2020
Barboza still slick!
— michael (@bisping) October 11, 2020
Marcin Tybura def. Ben Rothwell
The baldy Ed godfather Ben rothwell
— Baldy Ed (@brianboom135) October 11, 2020
These heavyweights are trading #UFCFightIsland5
— Mike Grundy (@MGWRESTLING) October 11, 2020
Rothwell with the beautiful head kick at the buzzer #ufcfoghtnight
— Mitch Gagnon (@MitchGagnonUFC) October 11, 2020
Patty cake @ufc
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) October 11, 2020
Get up dad #UFCFightIsland5
— Baldy Ed (@brianboom135) October 11, 2020
I’ve lost all respect for you dad…. just kidding I still love and believe in you ❤️ #UFCFightIsland5
— Baldy Ed (@brianboom135) October 11, 2020
Dricus Du Plessis def. Markus Perez
Was that the joker laugh he did. Finishes galore tonight #UFCFightIsland5
— Baldy Ed (@brianboom135) October 11, 2020
That’s how you make a UFC debut!!!!! Great fight @dricusduplessis!!! #UFCFightIsland5
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) October 11, 2020
When being flashy goes wrong
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) October 11, 2020
Game of inches! That spinning back elbow “could’ve” landed too but the punch to the ear landed first. #UFCFightIsland5
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 11, 2020
Tom Aspinall def. Alan Baudot
Tom with the takedown ♂️ and finish yesssss #UFCFightIsland5 @ufc
— Mike Grundy (@MGWRESTLING) October 11, 2020
Aspinall like, “I’m not Trynna do 3 coach!”#UFCFightIsland5
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 11, 2020
Tom Aspinall with another win…
— D (@darrentill2) October 11, 2020
llia Topuria def. Youssef Zalal
What a survival there this guy has strong chokes
— Baldy Ed (@brianboom135) October 11, 2020
Idk how Zalal escaped those sub attempts but I’m here for it! Things just got a lot more interesting. #UFCFightIsland5
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 11, 2020
You gotta give points for escaping those chokes. Sheesh I thought it was done #UFCFightIsland5
— Dwight Grant (@DwightGrant) October 11, 2020
Joaquin Buckley delivers “Knockout of Year” candidate
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) October 10, 2020
Jesus! Give that man 100k for that KO! #UFCFightIsland5
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) October 10, 2020
That shit is 55 Gs not 50 there’s levels in fashion
— Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) October 10, 2020
Some crazy NINJA sh*t .
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) October 10, 2020
Wow we just witnessed the best KO of 2020 @ufc
— Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) October 10, 2020
I mean I’ve seen some shit in mma, but that may be the craziest knockout ever!!!! Dude got some bonus money coming his way!!!!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) October 10, 2020
今のやばっ！
— 佐藤天 Takashi Sato (@satotenten) October 10, 2020
Shessshhh dope kick ! #UFCFightIsland5
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) October 10, 2020
That move.
That’s 50 G’s!— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) October 10, 2020
Holy shit that ko was something different. Bonus money gaurenteed
— Baldy Ed (@brianboom135) October 10, 2020
Yooooooooooooooooo that was the highlight of the year. Straight ninja shit #UFCFightIsland5
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) October 10, 2020