Cory Sandhagen will face Mario Bautista in a bantamweight rematch on the main card of UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Sandhagen enters the fight with an 18-6 record and 11-5 mark in the UFC. Bautista holds a 17-3 record with an 11-3 UFC mark.
The two fighters first met in January 2019 at a UFC Fight Night event. Sandhagen won that bout by armbar submission in the first round at 3:31. It marked Bautista’s UFC debut. Sandhagen has since competed at a high level in the division, facing several top names. Bautista has built experience with more fights and opportunities since then.
At media day, Sandhagen said the upcoming fight does not feel like a true rematch to him. He noted his short memory for past events and that he did not lose the first meeting. Sandhagen added that Bautista likely carries more motivation from the earlier loss. He plans to stick with his usual approach, focusing on winning each moment rather than any specific pace. Sandhagen mentioned his stronger early rounds could create problems for his opponent.
Bautista has spoken about major changes in his life and career since 2019. He said he was working a full time job as an auto glass installer at the time, dealing with debt, and not training as much. Now a full time fighter for seven years, Bautista has gained experience in bigger fights and handling pressure. He views the rematch as a chance to show his growth.
Both fighters sit in the upper ranks of the bantamweight division. A win would help position the victor for bigger opportunities ahead. The bout is scheduled for three rounds. Sandhagen will try to repeat his earlier success while Bautista aims to even the series with the benefit of added experience.