UFC 329 Results - Mario Bautista edges Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision in grueling bantamweight battle
(Courtesy :Â UFC)
Bautista’s relentless leg attacks, timely takedowns, and pressure earn a hard-fought 29-28 victory on all three scorecards
Mario Bautista added the biggest win of his UFC career at UFC 329, defeating former bantamweight title challenger Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision after three fiercely contested rounds.
The judges scored the bout 29-28 across the board in Bautista’s favor after a fight that featured damaging leg kicks, high-level scrambles, submission threats, and dramatic momentum swings. While Sandhagen showed his trademark creativity and toughness, Bautista’s pressure, wrestling, and attacks on an injured leg proved decisive over 15 hard minutes.
Mario Bautista targets Cory Sandhagen’s leg as both men trade momentum
Bautista opened the rematch at UFC 329 with a body kick before Sandhagen settled into his usual fluid movement, firing inside low kicks while circling the Octagon.
Sandhagen landed a sharp left hook that caught Bautista during a kick attempt and followed with a head kick that struck the guard. Bautista answered by driving Sandhagen to the fence in search of a takedown, forcing both men into a battle for body-lock control before separating.
Back at striking range, Bautista began finding success with combinations, while Sandhagen mixed in jabs, front kicks to the body, and a well-timed elbow to the midsection.
Late in the opening round, the pace intensified as both fighters exchanged takedown attempts. Bautista eventually completed a powerful level change, putting Sandhagen on the mat before immediately threatening a Suloev Stretch.
Sandhagen escaped the submission just before the horn, but the damage had already been done. As he returned to his corner, the former title challenger was visibly limping, suggesting his leg had been compromised.
Cory Sandhagen battles through injury as Bautista keeps pressing
Recognizing the injury, Bautista immediately attacked Sandhagen’s knee to begin the second round. Despite the setback, Sandhagen responded impressively, pumping his jab, throwing combinations, and controlling the distance with smart footwork whenever possible. Even as he stumbled moving around the cage, he consistently found Bautista with clean, straight punches.
Bautista continued chopping at the lead leg while mixing in left hooks and repeated takedown attempts. Sandhagen repeatedly stuffed the shots, reversed cage position, landed elbows in close quarters, and even opened a cut near Bautista’s eye with a stiff jab.
The exchanges remained razor-close throughout the frame, with Sandhagen finishing strongly by escaping another takedown and landing a crisp combination in the closing seconds.
Mario Bautista survives late scare to secure unanimous decision
The final round produced another dramatic momentum swing. Bautista clipped Sandhagen with a heavy shot that sent him crashing to the canvas. As Bautista swarmed, Sandhagen immediately threatened with a leg lock from a 50/50 position, preventing Bautista from capitalizing on the knockdown.
After returning to their feet, Bautista secured another takedown and briefly controlled Sandhagen from half guard before transitioning to his opponent’s back. Sandhagen escaped multiple dangerous positions, including a chicken-wing-style control, and eventually reversed into a takedown of his own against the fence.
The closing minute saw both fighters empty the tank. Bautista stayed aggressive with another drag-down attempt before Sandhagen landed a sharp elbow as they separated. Bautista continued marching forward until the final horn, sealing a gritty performance that convinced all three judges.
Result: Mario Bautista def. Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Who won the opening fight between King Green and Terrance McKinney at UFC 329?
King Green defeated Terrance McKinney via first-round technical knockout (TKO). The stoppage came at 4:59 of Round 1
When is the UFC 329 main event between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway expected to start?
The main event between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway is expected to begin at approximately 12:00 AM ET in the United States on Sunday, July 12, which translates to around 5:00 AM BST in the UK and 9:30 AM IST in India, though timing will depend on how the earlier main-card bouts play out.
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