Cory Sandhagen shared an image revealing the condition of his leg following his defeat to Mario Bautista at UFC 329. The photo offers a look at the physical toll Sandhagen endured in the bout.
Cory Sandhagen has offered a glimpse into the physical damage he sustained at UFC 329, sharing an image on social media that revealed the state of his leg following his defeat to Mario Bautista on July 11, 2026.
Sandhagen, 34, entered the fight as the No. 3-ranked bantamweight in the UFC, carrying an 18-7 record built on some of the division's most dynamic striking. The Colorado-based Elevation Fight Team product stands five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach and lands nearly five significant strikes per minute, making him one of the more technically gifted fighters in the 135-pound class. The loss to Bautista marks a difficult setback as he continues to chase a title shot.
Bautista, also 33 and American-born, came in ranked 10th in the division but delivered a result that will almost certainly shake up the bantamweight standings. The MMA Lab product carries an 18-3 record and has quietly developed into one of the division's more complete fighters, landing 5.52 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy while also threatening opponents on the mat with 2.49 takedowns per 15 minutes and over one submission attempt per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Sandhagen drops from No. 3 in the bantamweight division, putting his title contention timeline in serious doubt.
- Bautista's win over a top-three opponent could vault him well inside the rankings and into title conversation.
- The leg injury Sandhagen revealed suggests a recovery period ahead, further complicating his path back to the top.
- A rematch or next-opponent decision for both fighters now carries significant divisional weight.
Saturday, July 11, 2026
