His path was anything but set in stone and just 12 months ago it looked like Sordi was on his way to becoming an MMA also-ran. Unquestionably talented, but unable to meaningfully put the pieces together when it mattered most.
The 28-year-old just kept falling short despite earning some major opportunities. He had an uneventful three-fight run with Bellator, saw his UFC hopes dashed when he lost on the Contender Series in just 26 seconds to Ryan Spann, and then failed to make the playoffs in his first season with the PFL. Sordi finished 2018 with a 17-8 pro record and losses in four of his previous eight bouts.