TJ v. Sandhagen prediction and breakdown

[wiggum]

@wiggum

@wiggum

I will say that Cory used his reach well against Marlon most of the time, but was often inside range.

Just rewatched and I think I got this point wrong. Cory gets out pretty quick. TJ might time Cory getting out of range to land leg kicks or knee taps.

Also, TDD is also still a liability for Sandhagen. He gave up a BS takedown to Marlon at the end of round 1. The attempt to scoot was . . . not good.

[MasterofMartialArts]

@wiggum

@MasterofMartialArts

Man I’ve been wanting to analyze this but I haven’t had time to watch tape this week. Your OP was pretty accurate. TJ is much more defensively responsible on the feet. One thing I don’t remember seeing from Sandhagen (again, didn’t watch tape) is striking from different ranges. Up close we know he has good knees to the body, and has the ability and length to use the Thai plum to land knees to the head. We also know he’s great from the outside and can knock you out with a kick. I just don’t remember ever seeing him at boxing range, in the pocket.

TJ can fuck you up with kicks from the outside, or he can knock you out in the pocket with straight or looping punches. He also has good clinch work, so he fares above average at any distance. His wrestling will absolutely be a factor, and Corey knows that. Coming off a long layoff, TJ might be more likely to use it. Sandhagen uses angles just as well as TJ and is a knockout threat with his hands, elbows, shins and knees. Is he a bigger KO threat than TJ? Hard to say. I think prime TJ has a speed advantage, he knocked out Garbrandt who is maybe the fastest guy I’ve seen compete in the UFC.

Since TJ has been out it’s hard to say how he looks but motherfucker this is one of the more intriguing and exciting matchups in recent memory.

I was hoping you’d chime in! Good stuff – I agree on all counts. One thing TJ does nicely is double up punches while switching stances. There were some points in the Marlon fight where I could imagine a guy like TJ landing great combos and Sandhagen backed out of an exchange.

TJ is in another all-time great free fight. Him v. Cruz is, alongside Cain v. JDS and Forest v. Bonnar, probably the most important free fight ever. This is on the short list of best free fights UFC has ever put on.

I agree with that second paragraph. Good point about TJ doubling up - he also mixes his boxing in with his kicking game about as good as anybody in the UFC. I think that Sandhagen’s style is a little more energy conserving in that he throws one shot at a time, but he looks to land accurately and do damage.

[MasterofMartialArts]

@Clockworks

https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1418626451709079555?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1418626451709079555|twgr^|twcon^s1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mmamania.com%2F2021%2F7%2F23%2F22590615%2Fcory-sandhagen-vs-tj-dillashaw-staredown-video-ufc-vegas-32-weigh-ins-mma

Weird ass stare down, I was unable to take anything away from either guy.

[wiggum]

@Wasa-B, any thoughts?

[SandBlaster]

Sandhagen by KO 1st round

[zimmerdj]

I’m really excited for this one. A number of posts above point out many of the aspects I see factoring in as well so I won’t regurgitate. Long and short of it is I think Sandhagen takes it, his range being the determining factor.
I don’t believe for a minute TJ only juiced his last fight. I think he has been since Barao 1. Maybe not EPO the entire time, but PED’s. I bet losing to Dom was when he started looking into EPO. And I say all that with the confidence of a man who has no fucking clue what he’s taking about or a single source.
Sanhagen 4th rd submission

[SprawlnStall]

TJ is way more complete, but I really don’t recall him using a lot of wrestling. I mean, we know he can, but has he? This is his key to victory, takedown and sub.

Besides Cruz, all fighters after a long layoff have suffered from ringrust.

[wiggum]

@SprawlnStall

TJ is way more complete, but I really don’t recall him using a lot of wrestling. I mean, we know he can, but has he?

He absolutely used it with tremendous effect against Linekar. That fight featured some of the best MMA wrestling I have ever seen. IIRC, he used it against Assuncao in their second fight, as well.

[wiggum]

@SprawlnStall

Besides Cruz, all fighters after a long layoff have suffered from ringrust.

GSP looked pretty good, if you believe that the colitis was why he started appearing gassed. Meisha Tate looked good, too! But, I agree that usually fighters need a tune up fight. (Tate’s fight really was a tune up fight!)

[Overscore]

I cant pick one here. The 2 years off and the question of how long was epo a factor throw a wrench into it.

The TJ that beat Barao was a fucking buzzsaw.

Cory is really really great but hasnt been tested quite as much even with his good wins, his best win is against Edgar who is half the fighter he used to be.

Its a toss up to me. I suspect the first minute or two will make it evident if TJ is still TJ.

[Clockworks]

My money is locked in in sandhagen.

[wiggum]

@Overscore

Cory is really really great but hasnt been tested quite as much even with his good wins, his best win is against Edgar who is half the fighter he used to be.

I think the Marlon win probably tells us more about Sandhagen and is arguably a better win.

[wiggum]

Arce just demonstrated some techniques/approaches that would help TJ against the longer Sandhagen. He’d wait until his opponent threw single strikes and follow up with tight combos. TJ definitely has that in him.

[wiggum]

I’m switched from 51-49 Sandhagen to 51-49 TJ.

[ons_ear]

Fight time! I have to get this in. I want Dillashaw to come out and look amazing but my head tells me Sandhagen is going to work him over for a few rounds and finish him in the second

I’m torn watching this fight but rooting for TJ

[zimmerdj]

@ons_ear

Fight time! I have to get this in. I want Dillashaw to come out and look amazing but my head tells me Sandhagen is going to work him over for a few rounds and finish him in the second

I’m torn watching this fight but rooting for TJ

You mean few “minutes”?

[Sk1tzO420]

Why in the fuck are they showing the “highlights” when we all know he was on EPO?

Say what you want about Cody, but he told EVERYONE tj was doping and STILL fought him and paid for it.

Fuck that bitch ass cheater.

[wiggum]

@Sk1tzO420

Why in the fuck are they showing the “highlights” when we all know he was on EPO?

Say what you want about Cody, but he told EVERYONE tj was doping and STILL fought him and paid for it.

Fuck that bitch ass cheater.

I mean, what should they do?

[Sk1tzO420]

Show fights, but not his KO of Cody then him standing over him flexing when he was doped to the fucking gills. It’s in poor taste and shits on us as actual fans.

[Tim_Duncan]

I’m pumped!