Cory Sandhagen is officially off UFC Fight Night Raleigh.
The bantamweight was originally scheduled to fight former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar in the co-main event; however, Edgar became a last minute replacement for Brian Ortega at UFC Fight Night Busan, and the 38-year-old would suffer a loss via TKO strikes thanks to the "Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung.
There was still a chance that Edgar would face Sandhagen; however, the former UFC Lightweight Champion has been medically suspended for 180 days, thus taking him out of the card altogether. Instead of finding a replacement opponent,
MMA DNA confirms that officials have also pulled Sandhangen off the fight card as well.
While the #4 ranked fighter wasn’t thrilled over Edgar accepting the bout against Chan Sung Jung, he understands why the former Lightweight champion made the call to do so (transcript courtesy of
mmamania.com):
“I’m not mad, I understand money is a part of life,” Sandhagen wrote on social media.
“I just hate that aspect of society and I’m not at a place where dollars are more important than legacy. Frankie’s not in the same boat because he’s already solidified a legacy and I’m bummed I can’t fight such a legend. I trained this AM so I’m not butt hurt anymore. The ship sails on!”
UFC Fight Night Raleigh takes place on Saturday, January 25 from the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina with Curtis Blaydes and Junior Dos Santos headlining.