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.

Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.

MAIN CARD 

TOM ASPINALL VS. ALAN BAUDOT

 

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

 

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 

 

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 

 

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

 

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.

@kenaiandrews

UFC on ESPN+ 37: Corey Sandhagen stops Marlon Moraes with spinning wheel superkick