Initially, Sandhagen was supposed to fight Umar Nurmagomedov, but the Russian dropped out due to a shoulder injury two weeks before the tournament.
“I wanted to show a more spectacular performance, but lately I have had a lot of problems with the elbow joint and it seems that I tore my triceps in the first round. Apparently, now I have become a wrestler, sorry.
Of course I want a title fight. What other options do I have? Aljamain Sterling and Sean O'Malley, see you in Boston. Now I am the next contender,” Sandhagen said after the fight.