UFC APEX Banger: TJ Dillashaw vs Cory Sandhagen | FREE FIGHT

[@cheeseball5030]

Nobody ever talks about how good of a fight this was.

[@KZ_MMA-KZ]

Cause it was a robbery

[@oldeenglish64]

Great fight. Robbery? Okay buddy. This was extremely close tough fight.

[@therandomdude7347]

@@KZ_MMA-KZ Cory is a weight bully🤡

[@clarkdark2906]

@@therandomdude7347 weight bullies don’t exist but TJ won

[@sendmeyourlocation1145]

Maybe it wasn't that good

[@smashypeople]

that reverse triangle from Cory after the knee is one of the coolest things I've witnessed in the last few years of the sport.

[@afakinshetproducciones1366]

Minute?

[@BJJSubArtist]

@@afakinshetproducciones1366 1:16

[@mgz_lxw4492]

@@imravegod damage is the number 1 scoring criteria

[@dorito7480]

@@imravegod called him a casual, yet you don’t know that in terms of the official rulebook, damage is priority

[@kintarooe8688]

@@imravegod ur casual cory won

[@tylerjeffer8855]

I feel bad for whoever Cory fights next. He just had a 5 round fight with TJ and a 5 rounder with peter yan two of the best bantamweights ever and he's one of the only people who gave them fights that were inches apart. Even though Cory lost those two, he's still gotta be highly respected for these two performances.

[@ijonharris658]

He’s definitely going to be hungry lol I agree his next opponent better be ready

[@user-hv8jw1fx7x]

@positive thoughts Cory would kill aljo but would be a great match up

[@robbierotten9989]

@@user-hv8jw1fx7x Bro, Aljo literally choked out Cory in the first fucking round 😭😭 what are you talking about

[@jcbsalexyahoo]

cory won this one, even in hindsight

[@elmaistrodeteotihuacan]

Sandhagen was not really as competitive with yan as people remember, yan was always in control, avoiding his shots and landing regularly; it was more like a chill-paced domination by yan, the guy just doesn't kick into second gear

[@RandyBoBandy.]

The fact TJ went 5 rounds with a blown out knee is legit insane.

[@QenaitheCustodianGuard]

Dude is an animal

[@coldverb4205]

Eso es real? :vvvv

[@inthekingdom1996]

Yeah but that doesn't mean he should have been declared winner

[@RandyBoBandy.]

@@inthekingdom1996 not my point dude. One time, I hit my knee on the edge of a car bumper. It hurt so bad I puked. To be in a fist fight with a torn up knee is insanity.

[@inthekingdom1996]

No popular athlete will compete as hard. MMA and NHL players are class

[@nonstop]

Still think Sandhagen won this one. 🤷‍♂️

[@nidalgxhf]

yeah me too

[@nidalgxhf]

If i was a judge it would be 49.46 San

[@rabbychan]

nope

[@legrandeluigi5995]

100% he was most of the time superior. TJ had some good grappling, but no significant hits. Cory clearly outstriked him alot and had also good moments at the ground.

[@fakevirus8828]

Corys hits were cleaner too. I can't see how anyone thinks TJ won this. OK it wasn't totally one sided but if you watch with the sound off so DC bias cannot be heard it looks like a fairly straight forward unanimous

[@akindtroll28]

TJs head movement is so good, and his footwork is beautiful to watch. Banthamweight is such a talent-filled division and it's becoming the new Lightweight

[@lunafreed]

If only the champ wasn't fucking Sterling

[@VDR2612]

His knees were gone mid fight That's why he got knocked down because of lack of movement He would've beaten cory way more convincingly

[@joebenson528]

@@VDR2612 TJ was suspended because of the damage he took this fight.. He did not win this fight.

[@armandosalgado7993]

@@joebenson528 What a shit argument

[@madgavin7568]

Bantamweight might one day become the most stacked division in the entire UFC, its certainly trending in that direction. Even the unranked guys are to watchout for, and almost no boring fights. Today is the era of 135, 145 and 155 being the 'must watch' divisions in the UFC, even 125 is starting to join the mix.

[@ItiscalledaMANDATE]

Sandhagen was fighting backwards for 95% of the fight. The fact that Cory kept finding TJ's head with all of that awesome Dilleshaw head movement is a testament to his hand speed and accuracy.

[@danieljacot3083]

Dillishaw head movement and foot work was off after blowing his knee out in the first round

[@MrMonkeyfarmer1]

the 95% you speak of.... "Self preservation". He knew TJ being a 2 time Champ would have taken him out if he didn't move. But good for him he looked good in a loss but then again thats whats called "kissing your sister" in combat sports.

[@darrenwong7693]

Cory did most of the dmg. Fight could have gone either way

[@deleqtronica8733]

@@darrenwong7693 Sandhagen had this won easily but he fought with no urgency at all, he was chasing a highlight knockout and wasted too much time, giving Dillashaw the time to make it back.

[@too_sturdy]

@@darrenwong7693 Lol. I hope you're not serious. He gassed out bad by the end. He did great tho but Dillashaw had it 48-47. Dillashaw won 1,4,5. And 3 was close. Sandhagen won 2 for sure.

[@TruthSurge]

29:48 robbery. TJ was getting his face punched 20 times a round and he didn't do ANYTHING with any takedown or back position against the fence. He did get his face punched in a lot and his eyebrow sliced open with a punch and his knee injured by Cory but he landed almost no punches except glancing ones.

[@averagebro413]

Cory simply did much more damage, after fight cory was almost fresh while TJ was demolished.

[@KV____]

Good thing fights are about rounds won not damage done😂

[@averagebro413]

@@KV____ he won more rounds. more sig strikes every round, more damage, submission atemmpt and so on

[@chadwhite6302]

He actually didn't. He gave him a cut early in the fight. Yes it was a big cut but that was practically it. If he doesn't get the cut he looks fine.

[@KV____]

@@chadwhite6302 facts it was also the same cut that we reopened from like a month and a half previous to that fight

[@yannmoyes2493]

you are mislead by the only cut on Tj face cory got hit also with pretty good leg kicks all day and was controlled from the back several time def not a robbery and its coming from a cory fan i was so pissed live that he was lazy against the fence

[@HbVki]

@ 21:24 Cory is just so situationally aware of the tiniest things.. he knew on the break off TJ would use this opportunity to throw something since he’s expecting Cory not having line of sight.. so in anticipation he held on to his hand to avoid the hook, that was so nice to see.

[@kanthony9154]

This fight is a masterclass

[@たなかかげやま]

There's was a point where Cory grabbed tjs wrist yanked it to peel guard and threw a hook onto the same side. He's a technician it's sick

[@oliverlewis9578]

24:52 Again

[@enamlennahc1701]

Yeah great detail. That and he always has his hands back up. He's super good at that and lots of people should look at Sandhagen if they want to get better at striking.

[@mikekish3946]

He lost. Anyone knows you're going to throw off the break... Mma 101

[@cellodabest]

11:00 “No more commercial breaks till this is over” KZbin: yeah *sure*

[@breezocee]

Get premium 👍🏾

[@kieranb7747]

@@breezocee adblocker...

[@michaelcarrig627]

Cory is a beast. He takes the toughest fights and is the most advanced fighter in the game. Unfortunately, he lacks the power in his hands to cash in on the tactical advantages. At the time I though Cory was totally robbed but rewatching it the fight is much closer than I remember (though I still think Cory won, he just did way more damage).

[@aomarkhemmar7458]

@Christos Montariou he cant rlly take muscles hes 5’’11 fighting at 135pounds

[@Pandemos]

He needs to know when to and when not to do spinning shit. He isn't the most advanced fighter in the game, or he'd known not to Chris Weidman himself. But otherwise, when he stays technical, he's spectacular.

[@michaelcarrig627]

@@Pandemos of course this is a bit of exaggeration. I like Cory a lot, but I agree with you.

[@Pandemos]

@@michaelcarrig627 I'd say he's a problem for anyone in the top five, and that's a testament, but he needs to be reigned in on some choices on when to go for flash. His corner should be berating him for attempting a close wheel kick against a vet like Dillashaw. That was amateur. When he was keeping it tight with the switch up one two combos, he was piecing TJ up. Never turn your back on a wrestler. It's an invitation for them to close distance, given as a present with a bow tie on top.

[@nathanwaibel454]

He lacks knockout power. Not power. He has razor blades for knucks..

[@jdrum208]

1:16 flying knee to inverted triangle. Next level stuff. I don’t care that he lost to Yan and technically lost to TJ. Cory Sandhagen is one of the best fighters on the UFC roster

[@lunafreed]

He also lost to fucking Sterling lmao

[@madgavin7568]

@@lunafreed Sterling isn't a bum though. He's probably the second or third best Bantamweight in the world.

[@romanh.1180]

Nah

[@TheStraightestWhitest]

@@madgavin7568 Aldo, TJ, Yan, and this version of Cory all destroy Sterling.

[@madgavin7568]

@@TheStraightestWhitest You must be one of those people who think he's not very good. Stop underestimating him, only Yan has made him look bad. But Aljo dispatched of Cory in less than a round, and stylistically he's a tough one for Cory. TJ is on the older side so a victory over him is less than guaranteed. Aldo is really the only one other than Yan who is a toughout for Aljo.

[@AGC4]

This was a razor thin fight, I had Cory but it could've gone either way, Sandhagen vs Cruz and Aldo vs TJ should be next for both.

[@NewDesignVinylGraphics]

Imagine 7 years later cruz and tj would still be at the top of the division, crazy

[@rosscarroll6735]

I wouldn't have said it was razor thin

[@part1801]

The last round wasn't even close, Sandhagen got fucked

[@ThePhilosophicalOne]

@@part1801 ask someone who didn't watch the fight to judge them by their faces after... It's pretty obvious who won and who lost. 🤷‍♂️

[@marwanarras4982]

Both fun fights, would be sick !!

[@nicholasramirez8767]

Had Cory in that one for sure. Cleaner work. More damage dished out , less taken. Too many , almost all those take downs were useless and resulted in no work for TJ. Cory clearly won the stand up and the fight imo

[@Orteguh]

Yeah they really need to change that “octagon control” bull shit. Unless they’re doing damage or making the other dude miss it shouldn’t even factor.

[@siegfriedgottz698]

@@Orteguh i can see when striking is dead even and same with grappling but tj would grab his bac k hug him to side of cage and do nothing with it

[@toad1863]

Dude interms of striking TJ won this fight. You realize all the knees against the fence and taps on the ground and against the fence counts as damage my man. Usman vs masvidal 1 usman literally out damages masvidal with footstomps. Like it or not but this was actually pretty clearly TJ's fight

[@toad1863]

@Урош Раца not really. The point is that all of those shots count as damage. This isn't a video game we're every given hit takes a certain amount of hit points. If you touch your opponent more than he touches you or out grapples him while the striking is close you are winning the round as you should. People forget that effective grappling and effective striking are scored equal under the new judging criteria. Grappling against the cage is grappling all the same.

[@toad1863]

@Урош Раца this ain't a street fight bro it's a sport. A sport with rules and judging criteria. Irrespective of how you feel about the grappling and grinding does not change the fact that by the criteria TJ won the fight.

[@CasualRoundHouseMedia]

The fact that you can see clear as day right when Cory blows TJs knee out, TJ momentarily grimaces right after landing ground and pound right as Cory was digging in that heel hook, what a sport!

[@aegisreflector1239]

Timestamp?

[@CasualRoundHouseMedia]

@@aegisreflector1239 10 seconds left in the first round Cody shreds his knee as he’s eating GNP…

[@nikosgaming5695]

The fact that TJ got his knee destroyed in round 1 and still fought as hard as he did for four more rounds and inched out the W is just insane

[@aprodhitoaraujo2144]

maybe some leftover juice effect lol

[@lacostiben]

Can't deny the guy has grits.

[@yaoming5033]

@@lacostiben hes got the juice

[@jamesmitchell5126]

@@yaoming5033 Ming moo mr Ming

[@blind_guy9673]

@@yaoming5033 he’s also go the win over Cory💪🏻

[@cainslawyer8058]

As a Cory fan, this fight was super frustrating. Cory was piecing him up but out of nowhere starts to spin and gets held up or taken down

[@hoosierdaddy1585]

I don’t think that warrants a win for tj, that’s why I was frustrated. He did nothing with his control and got out struck and almost had his ligaments shredded. If you only land 2 of 19 takedowns, i feel like that should benefit the defender on the scoring cards. Tj has great wrestling so stuffing 17 of his takedowns is no easy feat.

[@cainslawyer8058]

@@hoosierdaddy1585 I agree Cory won but it shouldn't have been this close.

[@TalesByAJ]

@@cainslawyer8058 Cory won? the amount of leg kicks he took and like it or not, he was being held which counts as control. That's just how mma works. Not just the kickboxing but also clinch and control

[@cainslawyer8058]

@@TalesByAJ Super close fight. Cory could have kept his distance and avoided the clinch if he wasn't spinning the whole time

[@hoosierdaddy1585]

@@TalesByAJ judging criteria states that control can be disregarded if it leads to no advancement in the fight or significant strikes. I’m a huge fan of grappling but Tj was really just surviving more than anything. He didn’t really do any thing other than have “control”. It’d be different if he was ragdolling him but I personally didn’t think he showed any real dominance. Cory fought most positions well and got right back to it. Other than the judging criteria part, this is just my humble opinion.

[@ThePhilosophicalOne]

Sandhagen got robbed. He looked like he stepped out of the shower, post-fight. TJ looked like he got in a car accident... 🤷‍♂️

[@willhardy1002]

Facts.

[@timflynn2666]

Remember thinking it was a clear 3-2 W for Sandhagen. Still think he won 2,4 and 5 but 4 was closer than I remembered. Great fight

[@MyHejpadig]

1.2.5 cory won for me

[@brehbreh1067]

Deluded

[@ajd0101]

tj won by the naked eye

[@gaeloconnor707]

1, 4, 5 or 1, 3, 4 sandhagen. Headstrikes > leg kicks.

[@Myblacknadz]

@@gaeloconnor707 HUH!? Round 1 was CLEARLY Tj. Even DC and Dom gave that to TJ.

[@SuperMattiaskarlsson]

Wow this was such a technical fight. I’m impressed with the speed and movement and striking TJ and Cory possess.

[@MrWolfchamp-xi3cu]

A flying knee to an inverted triangle. That's something you don't see everyday. You'd probably have to script it or choreograph it or for a movie or something. Thing is tho that triangle wasn't connected right it looks like. He didn't have the positioning of his legs right. He had them positioned the opposite of how they should have been. The triangle of his leg was under the arm as opposed to on the neck with the other leg under the arm like it should have been. Had he done it right that might have ended up being the craziest submission ever. Craziest finish even. It would have been like Joaquin Buckley's kick knockout or something

[@ferretsbunz]

Your mentioning it now and I never thought just how crazy that could have been and was

[@nickkelly3199]

That would be even better than DJ's mid air armbar

[@tynodollaasign]

I remember Jimmy Flick’s flying triangle was insane

[@enigma372]

@@nickkelly3199 idk he picked dude up into it in mid air

[@dankrhino]

@@imravegod why’s he an idiot for saying that lmao, gotta keepit cool G 😎

[@unknownentity8256]

6:53 you know that 1-2 was nice when your opponent says it for you.

[@kevingray4980]

And yet disheartening once you stop and think about it..

[@thegrinderman1090]

Dillashaw 1+3, Sandhagen 2+4. 5th round was very close but Sandhagen is picking shots and landing cleanly on the chin, whereas Dillashaw is leaping in and mostly hitting the guard, occasionally getting through. But TJ's overall volume and pressure showed the judges enough to swing it. Fantastic technical fight.

[@ARTY41x]

tj did not win rd 1

[@thegrinderman1090]

@@ARTY41x They each landed a similar amount of similarly impactful shots. TJ had slightly more control time and pressure. If the leg lock at the end caused damage then it's probably Cory's round, but I'm not sure how an unknown like that's supposed to be factored into the judging.

[@jongrey0102]

5th round wasn’t close at all , sandhagen pieced tf outta him

[@MJ-vj6zp]

They only won round 2 and 5

[@agkizzy5405]

@@thegrinderman1090 I think when submissions such as the inverted triangle and leg lock are in question u get some consideration from judges. Also the knee was by far the biggest shot either landed that round

[@Rizzbulla]

Cory is a savage, love his fighting style. Him and Yan are my favorites.

[@opppopp2322]

want to see him and omalley...two long snipers strikers that will go for the occasional 360 no scope ko...that would be fun

[@lionelmessisburner7393]

@@opppopp2322 dream matchup. But honestly match anyone up with anyone else in bantamweight and it’s a banger fight.

[@ayatollahkhomeini3073]

Style his boring af

[@Rizzbulla]

@@ayatollahkhomeini3073 Not at all man.

[@stonermane621]

​@@ayatollahkhomeini3073 dunno shit. He literslly threw a flying knee to body triangle before landing in the first half round and youre talking shit. Clearly youre my 🐝tch

[@nf1]

Cory won this 100%

[@LocalleftyDG]

Too much credit was given for "controlling the ring" imo. It was no doubt a close fight, but based on damage done alone, Sandhagen should've gotten the W. The takedowns and grappling along the fence didn't do enough damage. The leg kicks by Dillashaw earned him something, but I think Sandhagen was definitely robbed here.

[@Skemr023]

If you wanna judge a fight purely on damage, then ask Sandhagen how he walked the following morning. Anyone who ever had some matches knows that, Tj looks damaged and the blood gives you an ever bigger ilusion however Cory was probably a plant in the following 2 weeks.

[@dougsmith1005]

@@Skemr023 That fuggin gash on his head isn't an illusion. All 3 announcers repeatedly said the judging was "weird" that night. TJ's a cheat and he shoulda lost this fight. He couldn't take Cory down (like 2.5 out of 20 or so attempts), didn't do ANY damage besides some decent leg kicks. Lost significant strikes significantly and was never in a position to finish the fight

[@mori4532]

Also ring control is only taken into account when effective striking and grappling is even, so that shouldn’t even be a factor when judging this fight except for round 1

[@eiv-ets]

@@Skemr023 even then, i think cory won in two categories of damage, that being body and head

[@JoeyNTasha]

@@Skemr023 the next day isn't really the day of the fight though, is it? Lol

[@marioulises5978]

TJ is an absolute animal. His movement and ability to adjust is incredible.

[@balazamon]

roid king dilishaw is probably on dope again

[@TeeepKick]

all with a blown knee after round 1. insane

[@Baillie.]

@@balazamon stay mad bum loads of fighter cycle peds just don’t get caught. Doesn’t change how good he is stay MAAAAAAAD

[@ovichggat]

@@Baillie. yeah but peds do change how good someone is... that's like the whole point

[@genkiferal7178]

I thought he won most rounds. The taller guy obviously has a longer reach, so got one great punch in to bloody up TJ, but otherwise...

[@beanie1089]

This was an incredible fight. These types of fights make guys like Sandhagen be just as impactful as the champions in their divisions. That's the bar. TJ is a vet and they looked like equals. Glad to revisit this one. 2020-present, not outta poor memory, but genuinely, out of honesty, I think have been the best, most competitive years the UFC has seen in most of its weight classes. There's so much more to everyone's game now, and we're seeing athletes compete that are skilled in almost every facet of the sport rather than just in stand up or just on the ground, only in wrestling or only in boxing, extc, and what's more, the athletes that are like that arent just the champs. It's most everyone in each division's top (fifteen) ten.

[@seandaugherty2033]

He's a cheater that got caught

[@HellaSayHella]

@@seandaugherty2033 Damn, he cheated in this one too? Never knew that.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Gold Cup Gain City Grab CDG

[@tylerwhite4557]

@arsonwarsEthnic TJ?

[@pninnan]

It feels like the athletic talent of the fighters took a leap forward in those years. The raw athletic ability of fighters now is miles above, day, 2010. Of course every era has outliers

[@jayr.3720]

Close fight, but for the record 17 out of 23 official MMA media outlets scored this fight for Sandhagen. Because a standing body lock doesn't win a round...

[@oleschmeed1978]

Preach

[@oleschmeed1978]

Cory scrambled and stuffed every takedown attempt after round 1. Plus all the rocks, counter striking even when effective, will loose you the fight. I wonder if they will ever fix this shit. Cory beat the hell outta tj, tj had some decent leg kicks 1 rock and the body lock for a few seconds each round, but because be walked forward he won.... dumb af

[@costanza7013]

Facts. Close by it was most ppl having sandhagen winning close

[@VACIUSP]

@@imravegod tj missed most of his punches

[@yartysparty]

What a fight! Won't be surprised to see these two go at it again someday.

[@Boxing.motive]

@@fakevirus8828 you are a complete casual. he has one of the greatest chins in the sport and was a champion long before using peds

[@ejl74]

Great fight. I thought Cory won when I watched it live but after watching g this again TJ did enough to get the nod.

[@bigwill4626]

@@Boxing.motive epo will help you do that. Someone's "Chin" is at surface value the strength of your jaw but in reality it's a combination of being in incredible cardiovascular condition and having the awareness to react and defend yourself with that cardio. If the ref didn't step in with tj and Henry, tj definitely would have recovered thanks to the illegal blood doping.

[@iluvmyboba]

Actually, they need to. I thought this was a razor thin decision in favor of TJ.

[@maddawg0633]

They will for sure most likely for a contender spot again

[@zackerykrummel1229]

Just rewatched this. Sandhagen clearly won

[@jasonhebert1656]

I don't think it was clear.. super fucking close it really coulda went either way

[@jasonhebert1656]

I remembered this fight being different

[@gingerprivilege421]

💯

[@dwis5871]

Thats wat i thought tbh it was 4-1 cory had 4 round in my eyes

[@jasonhebert1656]

@@dwis5871 I could see that argument. He may have edged 4. It was a good fight and I think they need to run this back.

[@callmegoodevening6635]

Best fight I've seen lately.. sick matchup. Technical masterpiece of a fight. Dillashaw had always been technically sound. Good hands, solid leg strikes and ground game.

[@too_sturdy]

Yes indeed he is as full rounded as a fighter can be, almost. 👏

[@montuviog1111]

Good is not enough of a term to describe Dillashaw, not only is he well rounded but he is truly elite at all aspects of MMA. I still remember when he held his own sparring Lomachenko. If not for Cruz, he would be bantamweight GOAT

[@Joeiguana27]

@@montuviog1111 He lost this fight by a mile and was gifted. What are you talking about.

[@petemitchell6788]

@@montuviog1111 he’s a cheater and can’t fight clean.

[@joshacord8622]

These guys are too old to be in the top 15. I give the fight a 2 out of 10.

[@MrWolfchamp-xi3cu]

That was a fight. Give people their time and energy's worth.

[@dr.chopper1880]

5:14 tripped me out! I thought those punches were loud af but it turns out TJ threw them in sync with the 10 second warning haha

[@LeonOC123]

Haha its like a cartoon😂

[@EvansMTBSaga]

Hahah good catch.

[@ognibbingo]

lmao

[@Coolhand69]

nigga u high 😂

[@scrimmins7]

At 16:54 what does dillashaw’s corner say to him? It sounds like “Cerrone the salesman?” Lol

[@Speedyy2Smoove]

Okay but that flying knee attempted and the save afterwards is just impressive and as entertaining if the fight ended there, Bantamweight has always had bangers

[@mightjustchill]

such an amazing fight. It's a shame cory suffered back to back losses considering how close this was and the fight he had with Yan. All three are really at a different level, best division in the sport by far.

[@Xocticz]

155 and 170

[@chrisgarcia7091]

best division?

[@chrisgarcia7091]

lightweight and featherweight would prolly be it

[@alpe6228]

lightweight is the deepest and hardest division of this sport.The UFC lightweight division is probably the greatest thing of all times,stacked with well rounded killers.

[@kyranscott8790]

@@Xocticz 170 not better than bant

[@jayc140]

the leg lock on dillashaw led to him being out since last July with a torn meniscus and PCL. because of that Cory got to fight Yan for the interim belt

[@itzAndy03]

And he lost

[@jayc140]

@@jonthompson1068 not taking anything away from tj just thought it would be interesting to someone wondering why tj didn’t fight yan for the interim title even though he won

[@ሕያው]

@@jonthompson1068 that there proved to me he is a savage. U can see him wincing in pain when tj had that heel hook in but fought through it

[@TheStraightestWhitest]

@@jayc140 Oh wow, a level headed MMA fan. Dope.

[@tupacshakur5708]

Cory thought he had it in the bag, you NEVER LEAVE IT TO THE JUDGES!! Cory learned a valuable lesson with this one 💯

[@robinheyer708]

Gotta agree with this. Sandhagen thought he was there and definitely coasted at some points in this fight. Dillashaw came up with a master class of looking good while losing. Almost every flashy move from Sandhagen ended in a clinch or takedown by Dillashaw. Sandhagen had his number on the combos but he doesn't show it. It's a small miracle that Dillashaw was allowed to finish the fight and managed to steal the win. If Sandhagen had kept it basic and boring he'd have won this easily but he had been so successful with the flashy stuff in the fights before this one that he couldn't help himself. Sandhagen lost because he allowed Dillashaw to look good.

[@beckolson5947]

Ur Alive?💀💀

[@tylerwhite4557]

well he did have it in the bag

[@IIxXxmattxXxII]

@@robinheyer708With TJ being so compromised the 3rd 4th and 5th shouldn’t had even been close. It was Cory’s fight to lose and he let TJ take it.

[@matthewlawson7461]

TJ Dillashaw has the heart of a warrior. You can just see it on his face

[@fakevirus8828]

He has the face of a cheat and is chinny af so if you are new here apologise and don't come back till you know what you are talking about.

[@YamaXI]

@@Kyle-rhysC Cheaters do not change and he only got caught not too long ago for all we now he could be on performance enhancers in this fight. He deserves to be benched for 2 years, and I won't only put TJ down. He has some serious serious potential but I don't get why he tossed it down the drain like Jones did.

[@laurierae5400]

Yeah, he has an enlarged heart from the copious amount of juice he's ingested over the years

[@savage6131]

Heart of a warrior? LOL no warriors don't cheat. heart of a pea

[@warrenbailey5469]

That Colby blood

[@seanmmaii7018]

Watching it live I didn’t even realise how much of a robbery this was. I was just astonished at how good TJ was looking after 2 years off. Look at what happened to iaquinta for being off for 2 years. Incredible stuff TJ. But u lost mate

[@rdebaron]

Hahahha

[@criticiser4998]

He won close

[@KlucznikG]

Look at Yair vs Max

[@aidan2139]

I agree Cory won but it definitely was close, but who cares TJ vs Yan would be a awesome fight.

[@pugnastyy2586]

Doesn't matter, Cory still got to fight for the (interim) title anyways. TJ just knew the blueprint to nullify Cory. No shame in losing to a former champ.

[@franticxdisembowler]

Dc saying this is the best martial arts you will ever see nd dom replying "not ever dc " killed me haha

[@maxbrachfeld7263]

I still can’t wrap my head around Cory losing this one

[@RoboGuerrero3]

Next lose vs Chito Vera

[@riderix5687]

@@RoboGuerrero3 nah he'll smoke vera

[@RoboGuerrero3]

@@riderix5687 no

[@riderix5687]

@@RoboGuerrero3 yep ez work

[@calvinanderson9442]

@@riderix5687 chito gonna do the same shit he did to dom, another guy who moves a lot and tries to point score

[@mr.e6748]

What this fight really showed is how far ahead Petr Yan really is, oh and obviously Sanhagen got robbed here.

[@otterno.1128]

Lmao 'robbed' you're fucking insane... you're only saying that because you don't like TJ, this fight was razor thin and honestly TJ won imo

[@smashypeople]

on a weeks notice

[@drewseller1511]

@@otterno.1128 i like both fighters but obviously 90% are saying robbed for a reason

[@otterno.1128]

@@drewseller1511 because they hate TJ, if you objectively watch this fight it’s not a robbery.

[@kobra8050]

@@otterno.1128 ok, the first round how does tj win it you don’t score the octagon control unless you need to so let’s look at damage, Cory has a tight inverted triangle that makes TJ grab his shorts. And then the leg lock attempt. The strikes were close but tj didn’t have any big moments like that. People who give TJ the fight score it like it’s 2004

[@ives3572]

One of the greatest technical fights in the UFC's bantamweight division and even in all of the UFC.

[@goodsolonius7305]

These judges would have given Kris Moutinho the win vs O'Malley "HE'S ALWAYS MOVING FORWARD, DUDE'S WINNING"

[@grogdizzy5814]

excellent analogy. Tj hardly did anything significant.

[@madgavin7568]

@@grogdizzy5814 Very poor analogy actually. Moutinho vs O'Malley was a beatdown, Sean was on his way to winning a 30-24 decision. This by comparison was an extremely competitive fight, and don't always focus on what Cory is doing simply because you hate TJ and want to see him lose, look at what TJ is doing as well.

[@TheDude044]

@@madgavin7568 Doesn’t matter what TJ did because Cory did more. Landed more total and significant strikes, stuffed 17 TDs and actually tried for sub attempts on the ground. TJ held Cory like a prom date for 8mins and won the fight.

[@madgavin7568]

@@TheDude044 Actually it does matter because this was not a blowout or masterclass performance by Cory. TJ's leg kicks and knees to the thighs count as significant strikes.

[@grogdizzy5814]

@@madgavin7568 you're missing the point and the analogy completely

[@eztrainz3489]

Definitely a coin flip fight. I wouldn't be mad with either or going home the winner. Cory with way more counters and TJ with more pressure and control time. Really cool seeing their minds adjust to each other throughout the fight. Cory looked really confident with his take down defense, but then TJ just kept pressing. Awesome fight

[@10babiscar]

there is a clear priority of damage over pressure/control time in the rule book. so by your conclusion it can't be a coin flip

[@dylanwagner1162]

Who would u rather be after that fight tj took so much more damage needing surgery and his face was fucked up cory should have won

[@rBlake]

@@dylanwagner1162100% this was in no way a coin flip fight lmao, it wasn’t dominant but cory deffs should have been Unanimous

[@QenaitheCustodianGuard]

TJ advanced alot and you never know about the judges and what they see.

[@GEORGIABOY23]

Lol it wasn’t that close 😂

[@jzu-k4v]

rewatching the fight I had it 2-2 going into the 5th. 5th round was razor thin and you could flip a coin for the winner of that round. Now I feel like Cory didn't get robbed, he just lost a coin toss.

[@KrikZ32]

yeah I had cory winning but this fight was way too close to call a robbery, that term gets thrown around too much.

[@katana_3558]

@@KrikZ32 yes its a theft

[@dieterantezana415]

nah chief, 5th was clear for cory. especially when you take damage into account, which is how judges score it. i believe it was 4-1 or 3-2

[@hanson2331]

@@dieterantezana415bruh how you make multiple bad takes in one comment. judges value control over dmg, hence the reason why wrestling is such a dominant aspect of the sport. and no, 5th round was not "clear" for cory, everyone knows that was the closest of the 5 rounds. Also, tj definitely won the first round in terms of pressure and control, which is something judges look for. 2-2 going into the 5th, like khabib said. foh

[@watchmanonthewall14]

My assessment is EXACTLY like Nick Newcombe.

[@hood-phantom]

cory was robbed

[@Ty-oe4dr]

i really believe cory will have that belt someday. hes young and doesnt take too much damage, and is clearly the 2nd best in the division (i think hed beat sterling if they ran it back)

[@pbleezy12]

100% sterling too inactive he'll get slept by yan and the ufc fans will rejoice lol

[@WiseyMikey]

Lmao ohh stfu Sterling is the champ and Sandhangen isn’t really a challenge for him especially not Dillashaw

[@BigsoldierMx]

@@pbleezy12 Aljolame Beat Yan✌️

[@snm1michaelmma82]

@@pbleezy12 CRY

[@valdemmons8962]

A flying leg headlock.

[@SadBoysCollectiveCirca96]

knowing tj fought essentially the whole fight on one leg is so damn impressive

[@max-ks4qm]

EPO also is impressive. Some cyclist died on that shit. God bless TJ!

[@andreuc6796]

@@max-ks4qm he used EPO to cut weight in his 125lbs bout against Cejudo. Never did it in 135 and even less for his comeback fight after the 2 year suspension

[@jdrum208]

@@andreuc6796 cap

[@1wiilover802hater]

@@andreuc6796 the excuses y’all make for this dude is insane. I’ve never seen a drug cheat get more love than Dillashaw

[@andreuc6796]

@@1wiilover802hater what excuses? I'm just telling facts. He did cheat but he did it to make an impossible weight cut. No one should ever take anything away from TJ in the 135lbs division because he has always been clean in it

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

Such an amazing fight. Corey is an absolute amazing worker. He proved it here and against Yan. He has so much heart and drive. And say what you want about TJ, but he showed me a lot in this fight. Especially taking such a high profile fight after a 2 year (well deserved) suspension. To fight at such at such a high level like this at his age, win or lose is pretty impressive. At any weight especially 135. In all honesty I originally thought Corey should have gotten his hand raised , Winning by a very small margin, but after watching it again, I see how the judges scored this for TJ. He definitely had some good control time.

[@donsimons9810]

His take down attempts and grappling were very lame. This fight was technical and cold, but not amazing. Corey should have won - it shows they have a really lame scoring system - TJ didn't do anything but rest with those grapples after the 2nd round.

[@Astral_Kay]

Who’s here after Merab became champ and hoping to see Sandhagen vs O’Malley next?

[@caroncoleman21]

After rewatching definitely feel like Cory won rounds 2,4, and 5. Feel for any fighter losing a close fight w/ the implications this one had. Respect for TJ battling through the knee injury

[@romanh.1180]

How can u rewatch this and think Sandhagen won lmfao

[@yarcusmoungbar5051]

@TheMenace77 u not even trying to hide ur bias

[@destinibest1886]

Tj won 1,3 nd 4

[@sithari518]

Maybe 2, but 4??

[@johnhopkins7817]

Destini Best facts he def won 1/3/4 I thought it was a robbery but nah sandhagen gave up his back too much. Too much stupid flying kicks and stuff

[@kevinramirez1668]

Could’ve gone either way. I had it 2-2 entering the fifth, but ultimately I think Cory did more damage. Sure tj got in some clinches and grappling situations, but nothing was done. No offense out of it, they’d just break, and reset. Hell of a fight though. I feel like if Corey stuck to fundamentals more instead of trying that spin kick, it would’ve played out differently.

[@ugnius2707]

Damage doesn't equal win. Tj had leg kicks, pressure and control time.

[@ziyaddamnzi1624]

@@ugnius2707 yeah it does on the judging criteria

[@kevinramirez1668]

@@ugnius2707 how do honestly say tj won with one of the reasons being pressure, and go on to say damage doesn’t count? Damage is a criteria on the scoring, while pressure doesn’t count on scores.🤨

[@jlev9513]

@@kevinramirez1668 Should have been a draw. Cory had more significant strikes and damage ( only by 18 ) but TJ had control time from take downs, and also effective aggression by pushing the fight forward while also landing shots. If Cory could have pushed forward more instead of being on the back foot he would have won.

[@drewsorbie9143]

@@ugnius2707 TJ had to go to grappling, because his standup was no match, his face says it all

[@Jewlions]

I remember watching this live thinking Sanhagen won. Curious to watch again

[@SonictheHedgehogInRealLife]

he did he beat the fuck out of tj. cut his eye bumps all over his face. he pieced em up

[@Jewlions]

@@imravegod who hurt you? wild comment for no reason lmao

[@omarsilva1077]

@@imravegod you have a judging/ referee license or wassup?

[@londonbreeze1453]

@@imravegod yea this tj burner for sure

[@Jewlions]

@@londonbreeze1453 dudes mad cause no one watches his streams lmao

[@gonzalovazquezavila535]

Dominick Cruz always so on point with the commentary,

[@ctabjjdanny6261]

Tj dillashaw with the switch of the stances is legit the hardest style to fight against he starts in one stance and ends the combo in another stance the bang system is incredible

[@oumuamua1602]

Crazy how the levels to mma seem almost infinite. When TJ first one the title, everyone was amazed at his footwork & technique, they compared him to Cruz a lot. Many expected him to hold the belt for a long time. Now we have killers like Yan & Sandhagen who look like they're on an even higher level than Cruz and TJ were.

[@breland7809]

TJ just beat cory…. lmao huh

[@random__joe]

And MMA has only been around for how long, 20-30 years,compared to how long humanity has been around.

[@TraceTx3]

What a great fight. Two absolute warriors

[@zackfrm330]

this was an epic fight man wow! one of the best ones ive seen yet im just getting back into fights

[@mcth0ny]

Cory was robbed, it was a great fight but there is no doubt in my mind that he had it .

[@marcosleon215]

Lol he lost the 3 first rounds

[@darkervoid1905]

@@marcosleon215 he easily won round 2

[@deyvi5251]

@@marcosleon215 how? Round 2 was easily his.

[@BlahBlahFreeman]

Amazing fight, and for many it's one of the posterchildren for the saying "Don't leave it up to the judges". Cory was on point. But I wouldn't call this a robbery. If it was a draw I don't think many people would be upset. I don't know what's more impressive honestly. The fact that Cory couldn't put TJ away when he was on 1 leg for 20 minutes, or that TJ managed to compete with one of the most dangerous competitors in the division after 2 years of not fighting. Regardless of what you think about TJ, that's a level of challenge that most people wouldn't be able to handle. In my eyes, both men won here. Sandhagen showed that he's technical monster that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the division, as shown by him fighting for the title after this fight. Dillashaw proved that he still has the ability to compete with the best, and the championship heart to push through injuries mid-fight. Both deserve respect, and both continue to make their division one of the most exciting in the UFC.

[@metamarvel7499]

100% For TJ to complete that fight with blood in his eye practically the entire time is worth respect by itself. The accuracy of Cory's shots while keeping TJ at bay was top level. Great fight by 2 bad dudes!

[@dylan104]

No, this was absolutely a robbery. Cory convincingly won 2, 4, and 5. He even has an argument for winning round 1. No way TJ won any rounds except 1 and 3. The only reason TJ won is because Sal D'Amato gave him round 5. Round 5 was the most convincing round for Cory out of all of them.

[@mrvlogs8648]

@@dylan104 stay mad

[@dannyoppong7605]

I still think cory won

[@young1939]

Wow, that was so close. A great performance by both fighters.

[@MultiLeonard1000]

I’m so disappointed this wasn’t fight of the night, or a fight of the year contender. To me it’s one of the best examples of someone who wins the fight vs someone who wins the sport. I thought Cory won but understand why they gave it to TJ.

[@samrenner2673]

Excellent sir , my thoughts exactly.

[@infernom6082]

Why did they give it to TJ?

[@filip6457]

@@infernom6082 tj had constant pressure and takedowns it was a close fight but in my eyes tj won

[@mohammadals3eide551]

@@infernom6082 nasty leg kicks

[@ferminordonez4275]

@@infernom6082 Leg kicks, td, good punches too.

[@darkcadence938]

This fight was amazing, i just love the bantamweight division, so full of action, Cory is amazing, tj is tenacious..

[@elnombredelarosa3167]

Interesting how Sandhagen was described as "lazy" and "lacking commitment" as a praise because he fights smarter not harder" Sometimes bravery mean recklessness where cowardice mean pragmatism

[@hawaiianrussian1047]

I genuinely feel that TJ put so much emphasis on his strength and conditioning and cardio during this camp and less on his actual mma training and it showed. If you watched the countdown and embedded for this fight almost 90% of them showing Tj’s camp it was him in Sam Calavitta’s garage doing strength and conditioning workouts and hill sprints. He looked strong as fuck in this fight but it’s like every time Sandhagen when on the offense Tj couldn’t see anything coming.

[@benkirkey2451]

To be fair, the cut being so close to his eye definitely affected what he could see coming😂

[@supergangstar1234]

Cory sandhagen is no joke! This man always brings a great fight!

[@IrateNinja-o6u231]

The fact that TJ did this off a 2 year Hiatus really shows how great he is.

[@KevinS7300]

Did what get a gifted decision after getting busted up for 5 rounds straight? Lmao

[@julianpapin9428]

@@KevinS7300 Exactly.

[@Gematrinator]

He lost.

[@johnathanguerad8531]

@@KevinS7300 busted??? I’m sorry but tj had his back nd kept the pace the entire fight lol tj was clearly right there

[@johnathanguerad8531]

@@KevinS7300 another reason y the my didn’t give him the w he couldn’t finish tj at all tj was right there

[@JacobHall1601]

Brutal and brilliant fight, TJ one of the best Bantamweights ever and I’m sure Cory will be a champ someday

[@lunafreed]

Not if Sterling keeps on delaying the Yan fight

[@madgavin7568]

I'm not certain if Cory will be champ one day actually, he's got some holes in his game that he needs to iron out otherwise he'll end up being the Alexander Gustafsson of 135. Most notably the fact he gives up his back a lot and makes too many unnecessary movements (including those flashy strikes). He gets better every time we see him, which is good but he may end up playing second fiddle to Petr Yan if he regains the belt.

[@fakevirus8828]

TJ isn't close to one of the best. Even on copious amounts of juice he wasn't. Stop lying.

[@brianwelsh3740]

@@fakevirus8828 tj the best UFC bantamweight of all time

[@kevindurantburner3592]

@@fakevirus8828 He's the 2nd best bantamweight of all time

[@joymcmillan848]

This is probably the most underrated fight in the UFC.

[@kloji9524]

Damn Cory really beat the shit outta T.J I didn’t realize how bad it was when I saw it live but wow Sandhagen smacked him around

[@hiddenchannel3902]

it's not dillashaws fault that sandhagen didn't really want it

[@goldenboy0121]

Yeah not like how bad your mom really wants me

[@smashypeople]

ez

[@ryancondon3140]

@@goldenboy0121 your mom told me to tell u to come down for breakfast in the morning. She gonna throw it down in the kitchen after I throw it down in the bedroom

[@ryancondon3140]

Tj took 1 3 and 4 clearly

[@erenjaegerbomb8653]

Can't remember the last time I saw a fight this god damn close with so much effort involved. Don't think I would've disputed either decision, nailbiter, loved it

[@jasonhebert1656]

I remember thinking Cory was robbed but after rewatching I completely agree with you here. What a fight though

[@justanobservation3423]

Street fight rules, TJ got his ass whooped! Crazy how much strategy needs to be played in UFC.

[@nathanjCates]

look at those two dudes standing there at the end and judge for yourself who had a better fight

[@omarkoreafx1859]

This fight was super technical and fun to watch from start to finish!

[@AstroBladez74]

Sandhagen won in my opinion. He was out striking and did more damage.

[@kintarooe8688]

ur opinion doesnt matter cory won objectively

[@AstroBladez74]

@@kintarooe8688 tell that to the judges

[@jerrykelley1256]

I think Corey won too. Just rewatched this fight and I really think Corey won it pretty easily. Tj got pieced up way more than he did with those takedowns. I feel for Corey after seeing this again. But I’m not a judge.

[@armandosalgado7993]

Due to the hate, everyone decides to forget that TJ fought the next 4 rounds with a torn knee and still gave a great performance considering 2 and a half years of inactivity.

[@drunkenmmamaster419]

That's what I'm saying. That's impressive as hell TJ is one tough sob

[@armandosalgado7993]

@@drunkenmmamaster419 For sure, TJ without injury involved, he would have won this more comfortably and even counting his long inactivity. The man is a beast.

[@Areyouduckingserious]

Man that cut above Dillishaws right eye is crazy man.

[@jesselee4453]

I'm actually like a really good judge of MMA fights and out of the people in that octagon I think I'm scoring all 5 rounds for Herb Dean, amazing control and he didn't even get hit once. What a legend.

[@myfirstasmrvideo8463]

Herb should be in the hall of fame this monster of a man has never been taken down

[@anthonypapiccio2045]

Actually Herb Dean and Chael Sonnen are the only two MMA guys who have never lost a single round of fighting

[@wallyharder809]

I believe it was the Octagon control of T.J. that made the difference. He didn't take Sandhagen down, but he tied him up and impressed the judges enough to get the VICTORY! God 🙏 bless ❤️ them both and their families!

[@levity90]

What a nice wholesome comment. Yes they're both warriors and hats off to them

[@agkizzy5405]

Tbh I think pressure when ur being outlanded and hit with big shots is useless. Like In round 4 Tj is coming foward 80% of the time and just getting picked off. Also realize that the style of Cory is to fight backwards. He wanted that fight and tj walked into his shots and got rocked. Pressure needs context sometimes for sure.

[@nunzioish8477]

Herb Dean: We’re gonna have a clean fight Tj: And so I took that personally

[@Uwek.5775]

Sandhagen vs O'malley is a fight i would love to see, i think Cory was just unlucky against a strong Yan who had a really good day when they fought.

[@joshuamullins4250]

I have thought this for 2 years now. O'Malley vs Sandhagen would either be fight of the year or a quick walk off KO for either fighter.

[@Uwek.5775]

@@joshuamullins4250 exactly that

[@Mr.Wilsin]

Why is everyone obsessed with the fact that TJ "looked good"??? He's a fighter of course he's going to try his best! You ppl act like no one has ever comeback after a long lay off!

[@bobchimpson7703]

long layoffs like this are hard to come back strong, its impressive because Cory was the #2 contender who was on a tear of knockouts, took Frankie Edgar's chin

[@Cultofderek]

Yeah GSP came off a four year lay off to win a championship in a weight class above his and no one talk about that anymore😆

[@madgavin7568]

More people are talking about the judges decision and many are bemoaning it calling it a robbery. What are you talking about? Peeps hate TJ and want to see him lose.

[@sonicboom20078]

I mean look at their faces at the end of the fight... I know that sometimes it doesn't apply, but in this case it certainly does lol.

[@kingrabbit101]

This was a straight robbery. Sandhagen won. No one talks about what a robbery this was.

[@futbolusa]

Commentators missed TJ getting his knee popped at the end of round 1

[@Stephen7764.]

So many freaking bangers in 2021! Also what's with all of these ''best of apex'' videos, are they no longer fighting there or is UFC youtube staff brainstorming with video ideas?

[@emailj1m]

brain storming with video ideas, they're still gonna do the occasional fight nights at the APEX if there's no avaliable venues, this weekends card for example

[@Stephen7764.]

@@emailj1m thanks!

[@nomurakenta2980]

Could've gone either way tbh. But how bout TJ's performance, after a 2yr layoff going against arguably the most dangerous contender in this division.

[@endorcore9316]

Not really close, 4-1 Corey

[@slimcortez9055]

@@endorcore9316 too bad he lost to dillashaw and yan

[@nasvsan6191]

Cory definitely got robbed but still got that title fight. UFC did us a great service with Sandhagen vs Yan

[@rosscarroll6735]

Wasn't a title fight, Sandhagen fought Yan for the interim belt. Aljo is still technically the champ in the division.

[@billyin4c514]

Dude, his whole career at bantamweight is basically a guy who's oversize for the division trying to take advantage of his height and reach. Dillashaw fight the guy for four rounds on an injured leg, didn't get finished, and controlled him with wrestling. How would this fight have gone if Dillashaw wasn't injured?

[@mr.e6748]

@@billyin4c514 Same way, Dillashaw got injured by Cory tho?

[@KrikZ32]

@@billyin4c514 how would TJ's entire career have gone if he never used PEDs?

[@billyin4c514]

@@KrikZ32 We know TJ used epo once, everything else is speculation.

[@deronharris192]

Whoever judged this fight needs to be fired asap.

[@sithari518]

Insane how many injuries TJ had going into this, and he still wins. Not only that but he sits out for a few years and his first fight back is a young hungry guy at the very top of the division.

[@Staalstraal]

He always was something special but his ped use has tainted his legacy for sure.

[@AhhTheBonnie]

2 Great Fighters, well done to both 🤙

[@darrickjones3977]

Cory got robbed. I don’t believe TJ did enough, even with the takedowns. Seemed as if TJ was in survival mode if you ask me. Just doing whatever he could to have some sort of success. He was more of the aggressor, but the counter striking by Cory overshadowed that aggression. Great fight though.

[@kadenmaguglin392]

herb starring down TJ at the end of round 1 was funny lol

[@derbistheeternal2947]

Cory clearly won. Great fight.

[@willhardy1002]

CLEARLY. Not sure why taking down your opponent for half a second as he gets right back up decides a fight in the judges eyes.