UFC San Antonio: Cory Sandhagen faces longer medical suspension than Marlon Vera despite dominating performance
Despite his dominating performance and impressive decision victory at the UFC San Antonio event last week, Cory Sandhagen has been handed a longer medical suspension than his opponent Marlon Vera. The news may come as a surprise to fans who watched Sandhagen put on a spectacular display of skill and athleticism in the octagon.
UFC San Antonio, also billed as the UFC on ESPN 43, successfully commenced last weekend at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. The event was regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which has now suspended all 20 combatants due to medical concerns following their fights. The commission provided a list of these suspensions on Wednesday.
Despite his impressive victory against 'Chito' last week, the No.3-ranked bantamweight fighter and former interim title challenger Cory Sandhagen was also impacted by the medical suspensions handed out by TDLR. Despite his spectacular performance in the octagon, Sandhagen received a 45-day suspension, which is longer than his opponent's 30-day suspension.
#UFCSanAntonio medical suspensions: Cory Sandhagen faces more time off than Marlon Vera (via @mma_kings) mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-espn…
Although the exact reasons for the difference in medical suspensions are unclear, it is worth noting that the UFC places a high priority on the health and safety of its fighters. While it may be frustrating for Cory Sandhagen to have to sit out for a longer period of time, it is ultimately in his best interest to take the necessary time to recover fully before stepping back into the octagon.
Cory Sandhagen rises in the UFC rankings following the San Antonio event
Following the recent UFC Fight Night event in San Antonio, the UFC has released updated fighter rankings. The most notable change in the bantamweight division was Cory Sandhagen's rise of two spots to the No.3 ranking. In contrast, Marlon Vera fell two places and is now ranked at No.5.
These changes may come as a surprise to some fans, but they reflect the fighters' recent performances and records. Sandhagen's impressive victory against Vera likely contributed to his ascent in the rankings, while Vera's loss led to his drop in position.
The headline bout of the UFC San Antonio event featured a match between Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Vera, with 'The Sandman' delivering a masterful performance to secure a split decision victory. While two of the judges scored the fight in favor of Sandhagen, with scores of 49-46 and 50-45, one judge submitted a surprising 48-47 scorecard in favor of 'Chito'.
The controversial scorecard has caused confusion and frustration among fans and analysts, given the clear dominance that Sandhagen displayed throughout the fight. Despite this discrepancy, Sandhagen's impressive performance could not be denied, as he demonstrated a superior level of skill and athleticism in the octagon.