Cory Sandhagen reacts to UFC 329 rematch loss, says he’s worried about a torn hamstring

Cory Sandhagen is taking time to process Saturday’s UFC 329 setback, and he is also looking ahead with concern about his physical condition. In a statement released shortly after the event, the former UFC bantamweight title challenger said he feels “bummed” following his unanimous decision loss to Mario Bautista in their rematch, which served as the featured fight on the UFC 329 main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

According to the report, Sandhagen’s disappointment was tied not only to the outcome but also to what he expects could be a more serious injury. He indicated that he fears the issue is a torn hamstring, a concern that would carry immediate implications for his next training cycle and for how quickly he could return to competition if scans confirm structural damage.

The loss also adds weight to the storyline between the two bantamweight contenders. Bautista had the momentum of winning the rematch against Sandhagen by unanimous decision, giving him another clear result over a fighter who has repeatedly positioned himself for title shots in the division. For Sandhagen, the rematch result stalls his momentum in a bantamweight landscape where timing and recoverability can matter as much as skill.

Sandhagen’s statement matters because it points to uncertainty that typically goes beyond normal soreness. A suspected torn hamstring can interrupt explosive work, delay full-speed training, and force a fighter to shift strategy around rehabilitation rather than camp fundamentals. Even if the injury is managed without surgery, return timelines for high-grade hamstring tears are often measured in months, not weeks, though the report does not provide a confirmed diagnosis or medical timeline.

For Bautista, a featured-fight rematch win is the kind of result that tends to sharpen a fighter’s positioning within the bantamweight picture. Sandhagen has long been a notable name for marquee bouts in the division, and winning decisively over him helps strengthen Bautista’s case for future high-level matchups. But the next steps for both men will likely hinge on what happens with Sandhagen’s health.

Going forward, the UFC community will watch for additional medical updates and for whether Sandhagen plans to provide further clarity after evaluation. The most immediate question is whether his hamstring concern is confirmed and, if so, how that affects his ability to accept or pursue another fight in the near term. Until that’s resolved, the rematch’s competitive outcome will be overshadowed by the bigger issue of recovery.