UFC bantamweight Corey Sandhagen (12-2-0) sent a message to Marlon Moraes (23-7-1) and the bantamweight division Saturday night at UFC on ESPN+ 37 at Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
After a competitive first round which saw both fighters exchange powerful strikes, Sandhagen hit pay dirt with a spinning wheel kick that sent Moraes crashing to the canvas. Follow up strikes forced referee Marc Goddard to call the bout at 1:03 of the second round.
Sandhagen called out his former training partner and bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw and former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar.
The card also produced this spectacular finish from Joaquin Buckley.
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1315066583962849283?s=20
Sandhagen, Buckley, Tom Breese, and Chris Daukaus earned performances of the night and a $50,000 USD bonus apiece.
Tonight's POTNs go down in history!
💰: Tom Breese
💵: @ChrisDaukausMMA
💸: @NewMansa94
💲: @Cors_Life pic.twitter.com/JAcxrnQOmQ— UFC (@ufc) October 11, 2020
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
MAIN CARD
TOM ASPINALL VS. ALAN BAUDOT
ANOTHER ONE! 💢
Tom Aspinall gets his second consecutive RD 1️⃣finish.
[ #UFCFightIsland5 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/TqzcWnU15a
— UFC (@ufc) October 11, 2020
WINNER: TOM ASPINALL VIA TKO (ELBOWS AND PUNCHES) R1 1:35
ANDREWS PREDICTION: TOM ASPINALL VIA TKO
Andrews: The experience did pay off for Aspinall.
MARKUS PEREZ VS. DRICUS DU PLESSIS
FIGHT ISLAND HITS DIFFERENT!!!
What a debut for @DricusDuPlessis 🙌
[ Main card is rolling on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/7QPTNwRLj3
— UFC (@ufc) October 11, 2020
WINNER: DRICUS DU PLESSIS VIA TKO
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DRICUS DU PLESSIS VIA TKO
Andrews: Wow! Perez continues to slump in the octagon. Great win for the newcomer.
BEN ROTHWELL VS. MARCIN TYBURA
15 minutes of work!
🇵🇱 @MarcinTybura grabs the UD at #UFCFightIsland5.
[ Co-main is next on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/zPLLt5wd7f
— UFC (@ufc) October 11, 2020
WINNER: MARCIN TYBURA VIA UD (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MARCIN TYBURA VIA UD
Andrews: As expected, Tybura outworked Rothwell.
EDSON BARBOZA VS. MAKWAN AMIRKHANI
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1315111121645375489?s=20
WINNER: EDSON BARBOZA VIA UD (30-26, 30-27, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: EDSON BARBOZA VIA UD
Andrews: As expected, Barboza was too much for Mr. Finland.
MAIN EVENT
MARLON MORAES VS. CORY SANDHAGEN
HEEL KICK TO THE DOME 🤯
⌛️ @Cors_Life has arrived on Fight Island!
[ #UFCFightIsland5 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/p0tHHDUTNs
— UFC (@ufc) October 11, 2020
WINNER: CORY SANDHAGEN VIA TKO (SPINNING WHEEL KICK) R2 1:03
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MARLON MORAES VIA TKO
Andrews: Wow! Moraes got caught after a good first round. Sandhagen definitely made a statement.
