Cory Sandhagen believes the spotlight will be on him as never before when he takes on Marlon Moraes in the main contest at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The American holds a 12-2 record while his Brazilian opponent arrives with a 23-6-1 for the bantamweight contest.
“It definitely is the most eyes that I’m gonna have on me in a fight,” Sandhagen said of his first appearance on a main UFC fight card and first visit to Abu Dhabi.
“I’m really excited that I made it to my first main event at Fight Island. I know quite a bit about my opponent. He’s one of the tougher guys in the UFC and definitely a guy I have to take very seriously.”
To feature in the headline bout is a step forward in his career but Sandhagen, 28, insisted every fight is important.
“All my fights have been special and every one of them has been different. I try to soak in as much as I can,” he said.
“I wish this can pave the way for a title fight in another one or two goes, and perhaps, that can be even better. As of now, all my fights have a special place in my heart.”
Looking ahead to his pre-fight routine, Sandhagen added: “It’s different every time as you wait for your turn to get in to the octagon.
“Sometimes there’s a lot of nerves and anxiety, sometimes there’s a game plan going through your mind, and sometimes you get aggressive, but definitely there’s a lot of emotions.
“Usually I spend around five or 10 minutes on breathing exercises before my turn comes and get my mind in a place where it needs to be.”
It is also the Colorado native’s first visit to Abu Dhabi and the furthest he has travelled for a fight.
“It’s a beautiful set-up in the (Yas) island,” Sandhagen said of the fight venue. “The island itself is beautiful with a beach.
“I did some search on Abu Dhabi and would really want to visit the (Sheikh Zayed) mosque, travel to Dubai and around the country looking around at the pretty architectures.
UFC Fight Night 4 in Abu Dhabi
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Holly Holm (R) punches Irene Aldana of Mexico in their women's bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night 4 event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Irene Aldana (R) of Mexico punches Holly Holm in their women's bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Holly Holm (L) takes down Irene Aldana of Mexico in their bantamweight bout during UFC Fight Night at Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Holly Holm celebrates after defeating Irene Aldana. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Carlos Felipe (L) of Brazil punches Yorgan De Castro of Cape Verde. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Carlos Felipe (L) of Brazil punches Yorgan De Castro of Cape Verde in their heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Yorgan De Castro (R) of Cape Verde punches Carlos Felipe of Brazil in their heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Carlos Felipe (R) of Brazil reacts after defeating Yorgan De Castro of Cape Verde in their heavyweight bout. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Germaine de Randemie (R) of The Netherlands punches Julianna Pena in their women's bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Julianna Pena (R) punches Germaine de Randemie of The Netherlands in their women's bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Germaine de Randemie (R) submits Julianna Pena in their bantamweight bout during UFC Fight Night event at Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Germaine de Randemie celebrates after defeating Julianna Pena. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Kyler Phillips (R) kicks Cameron Else of England in their bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Cameron Else of England punches Kyler Phillips in their bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Kyler Phillips (L) takes down Cameron Else of England in their bantamweight bout. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Referee Marc Goddard signals the fight finished as Kyler Phillips defeats Cameron Else. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Dusko Todorovic (L) of Serbia punches Dequan Townsend in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Dequan Townsend (L) punches Dusko Todorovic of Serbia in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Dusko Todorovic (L) of Serbia punches Dequan Townsend in their middleweight bout. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC -
Dusko Todorovic (R) of Serbia reacts after defeating Dequan Townsend in their middleweight bout. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
“I wish I could go around but I can’t under the prevailing situation. Perhaps after the fight. If I can’t make it this time, probably next time.”
Sandhagen had to go through two quarantines both in Los Angeles and in Abu Dhabi, but acknowledged it as part of the process.
“It’s unfortunate and no one really likes to be in quarantine but these are extraordinary circumstances,” he added.
“As professional athletes we need to obey rules and it’s not unusual to go through this process under the prevailing situation.”
Sandhagen’s journey in mixed martial art began with taekwondo as a kid and then kickboxing and jiu-jitsu as a teenager.
“It has now taken me all the way to Fight Island,” he said. “I did have a lot of natural abilities and have been around in combat sport for a while before turning professional.”
Sandhagen graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of Colorado in 2014. He was involved in social work aside from his training and studies during his college days.
“I teach in the gym where I train,” he said. “During my college days I did some social work and ended up doing a part time job at a trauma centre for children.
“I still love doing it even though I don’t need to do that anymore at this stage of my life. It’s my way of giving back something to the community.”
