Cory Sandhagen Opens Up: “I Was Homeless 5 Fights Into the UFC”

As the spotlight grows ahead of UFC 316, Cory Sandhagen shared a reminder that not every fight happens inside the Octagon. In a recent clip, Sandhagen revealed that he was homeless during the early part of his UFC run—despite already having five fights under the promotion.

Fans know Sandhagen for his clean technique and smart footwork, but behind that polished style is a story of real struggle. There were no big paychecks or cushy camps when he started—just hard nights and harder choices.

As UFC 316 draws near, and the bantamweight spotlight turns to names like Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O'Malley, Sandhagen’s story is a timely reminder: not every champion’s path is pretty, and not all victories happen under the lights.