Cory Sandhagen seeks to use his upcoming bout against TJ Dillashaw as a launchpad to a bantamweight title bout, while Dillashaw needs a dominant performance to reassert himself following a two-year suspension. The next challenger for the bantamweight should be decided Saturday, as Sandhagen meets Dillashaw in the main event of UFC on ESPN.
Sandhagen (14–2) is ranked second in UFC bantamweight after winning his past two fights. A win against Dillashaw would lead to a title shot against the winner of the upcoming UFC 267 title bout in October, pitting Aljamain Sterling against Petr Yan.