Cory Sandhagen, a veteran bantamweight contender, has announced his upcoming surgery to fix a torn tricep incurred whilst winning his main event against Rob Font at UFC Nashville, and plans to return to action in 2024.
Cory Sandhagen is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair a torn tricep, an injury he sustained in his main event win against Rob Font at UFC Nashville last weekend. The notable bantamweight contender announced the news about his forthcoming operation via Instagram. Sandhagen shared that the injury happened in the first round, yet he kept fighting for over 20 minutes and went on to secure a unanimous victory.
In his Instagram post, Sandhagen wrote: “Fully torn tricep in Round 1. Wasn’t able to punch or elbow with that arm without the pain and it feeling like s***. Did what I had to do to win that night. Surgery this week – back soon!” And, he did win that night, putting Font on the defensive and marking his third consecutive victory, edging closer to title contention, in spite of his injury.
Tricep repair surgery usually involves making an incision in the back of the arm to reattach the tendon to the bone. The recovery timespan varies, generally taking approximately four to six months to return to normal activities. Some physicians claim it could take up to a year to regain a full range of motion. The severity of Sandhagen’s injury forced him to make strategic adjustments in the bout against Font. Shunning his usual preference for standing and striking, he instead focused on executing takedowns, grappling, and establishing ground control.
Despite altered gameplay and torn tricep, Sandhagen managed to clinch the win. He faced criticism for his performance, with UFC president Dana White allegedly leaving the arena before the climax of the main event. Undeterred by differing opinions, Sandhagen claimed victory, added another win to his record, and is now likely eyeing a return to action in 2024, post his tricep repair surgery.