Cory Sandhagen scored a $50,000 bonus on Saturday, but UFC matchmakers should tip him extra considering he may have just done their jobs for them.
Heading into the UFC Fight Island 5 main event between Sandhagen and Marlon Moraes, the possibility existed that a Moraes win could muddy the waters at the top of the bantamweight division Aljamain Sterling’s presumed title opportunity is still yet to be announced. After all, Moraes holds a knockout win over Sterling, arguably should have been part of the vacant bantamweight championship bout at UFC 251 instead of Jose Aldo (the man Moraes beat by split decision at UFC 245), and was already once booked to face future titleholder Petr Yan in June at an event that was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.