UFC Fight Night 179: Moraes vs. Sandhagen | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Daniel Cornmeat
- May 21
- 6 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 179: Moraes vs. Sandhagen took place on October 11, 2020 at the du Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi — UFC Fight Island 5, the promotion’s return to the UAE bubble after its September run at the Apex. The event was headlined by a pivotal bantamweight clash between number-one ranked Marlon Moraes and resurgent contender Cory Sandhagen, with a title shot on the line.
Sandhagen won with one of the finest spinning wheel kicks ever thrown inside the Octagon, stopping Moraes in round two. The card also produced what many consider the greatest knockout in UFC history: Joaquin Buckley’s physics-defying spinning back kick finish of Impa Kasanganay, which went instantly viral. Tom Aspinall, Ilia Topuria, and Dricus du Plessis all made their UFC debuts. A Fight Island card that delivered on every level.
Contents
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Sunday, October 11, 2020 (Saturday, October 10 in USA)
📍 Venue: du Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE (UFC Fight Island 5)
👥 Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors — COVID-19 pandemic)
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ (UFC on ESPN+ 37)
🏆 Main Event: Marlon Moraes vs. Cory Sandhagen — Bantamweight
✅ Result: Cory Sandhagen def. Marlon Moraes via TKO (Spinning Wheel Kick and Punches) (Round 2, 1:03)
🥇 Champion: Title not on the line (title shot at stake)
The Build-Up
Marlon Moraes entered FN 179 as the number-one ranked bantamweight contender, looking to earn his second title shot. His last UFC outing had been a stunning decision win over Jose Aldo in December 2019. Cory Sandhagen was coming off his first UFC loss, a first-round submission upset defeat to Aljamain Sterling. A rebound win over the number-one ranked Moraes would be as emphatic a statement as any bantamweight could make.
The event returned the UFC to Fight Island for the first time since the July bubble, with UFC 253 (Adesanya vs. Costa) having taken place the week before on Yas Island. The undercard was loaded with notable names on debut: Tom Aspinall, Ilia Topuria, and Dricus du Plessis all made their UFC entrances on this card. And in the prelims, Joaquin Buckley — a middleweight who had already shown finishing ability — was facing Impa Kasanganay in a bout few would ever forget.
Main Event: Sandhagen vs. Moraes
Cory Sandhagen finished Marlon Moraes with a spectacular spinning wheel kick to the head at 1:03 of round two, stopping the former number-one contender with one of the finest technique strikes the bantamweight division had ever seen. The first round was a tactical high-level exchange: Sandhagen working his leg kicks and movement, Moraes hunting for his trademark big right hand and landing a takedown off a Sandhagen body kick.
In round two, Sandhagen feinted a jab, loaded up, and launched a perfectly timed spinning wheel kick that clipped Moraes on the top of the head. Moraes dropped immediately and Sandhagen swarmed with punches until referee Marc Goddard called the stop. It was the biggest win of Sandhagen’s career and earned him an immediate title shot against Petr Yan. For Moraes, it was a defining loss from which he would struggle to recover.
Co-Main Event: Barboza vs. Amirkhani
Edson Barboza returned to the win column with a unanimous decision over Makwan Amirkhani, his first UFC victory in almost two years. Barboza dropped Amirkhani twice in the second round and showed flashes of the elite striking that had made him one of the most feared kickboxers in the division. The scores read 30-26, 30-27, and 29-28.
Full Results
Main Card
Cory Sandhagen def. Marlon Moraes — TKO (Spinning Wheel Kick and Punches) (Round 2, 1:03) — Performance of the Night
Edson Barboza def. Makwan Amirkhani — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00) | 30-26, 30-27, 29-28
Marcin Tybura def. Ben Rothwell — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00)
Dricus du Plessis def. Markus Perez — KO (Punches) (Round 1, 3:22) — UFC debut
Tom Aspinall def. Alan Baudot — TKO (Punches) (Round 1, 1:35) — UFC debut
Preliminary Card
Ilia Topuria def. Youssef Zalal — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00) | 29-28 x3 — UFC debut
Tom Breese def. K.B. Bhullar — Finish — Performance of the Night
Chris Daukaus def. Rodrigo Nascimento — KO (Punches) (Round 1, 0:45) — Performance of the Night
Joaquin Buckley def. Impa Kasanganay — KO (Spinning Back Kick) (Round 2) — Performance of the Night | One of the greatest KOs in UFC history
Giga Chikadze def. Omar Morales — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00) | 30-27 x3 — Chikadze 4-0 in UFC
Tony Kelley def. Ali AlQaisi — Decision (Round 3, 5:00)
Tracy Cortez def. Stephanie Egger — Decision (Round 3, 5:00)
Tagir Ulanbekov def. Bruno Silva — Decision (Round 3, 5:00)
Bonuses & Awards
No Fight of the Night bonus was awarded. Four Performance of the Night bonuses recognised the card’s best individual performances.
🏆 Performance of the Night: Cory Sandhagen ($50,000) — Spinning wheel kick TKO of Marlon Moraes, Round 2, 1:03
🏆 Performance of the Night: Tom Breese ($50,000)
🏆 Performance of the Night: Chris Daukaus ($50,000) — KO of Rodrigo Nascimento, Round 1, 0:45
🏆 Performance of the Night: Joaquin Buckley ($50,000) — Spinning back kick KO of Impa Kasanganay
Records & Milestones
🥊 Joaquin Buckley’s spinning back kick KO of Impa Kasanganay is widely regarded as one of the greatest knockouts in UFC history. The technique — a spinning back kick to the body that knocked Kasanganay out while Buckley’s other leg was still being held by his opponent — was physically extraordinary and went instantly viral worldwide.
🥊 FN 179 featured notable UFC debuts: Tom Aspinall (R1 TKO), Ilia Topuria (UD win), and Dricus du Plessis (R1 KO). All three would go on to become UFC champions or title challengers.
🥊 Sandhagen’s spinning wheel kick win over Moraes earned him an immediate title shot against Petr Yan — the reigning bantamweight champion. That fight took place at UFC 267 in October 2021.
Legacy & Impact
UFC Fight Night 179 is remembered for two performances above all others. Sandhagen’s spinning wheel kick finish of the number-one ranked bantamweight was technically flawless — a technique that had rarely worked as a finish at this level, executed with precision and timing. And Buckley’s spinning back kick KO of Kasanganay was so physically extraordinary that fans rewatched it thousands of times trying to understand how it was physically possible.
The card also served as a remarkable talent showcase: Aspinall, Topuria, and du Plessis all debuted and all three went on to become significant forces in their respective divisions. Looking back, FN 179 stands as one of the finest single Fight Night cards in terms of debut talent concentration — and one of the most memorable nights in Fight Island history.
FAQ
How did Sandhagen finish Moraes at UFC Fight Night 179?
Sandhagen feinted a jab in round two and launched a perfectly timed spinning wheel kick that caught Moraes on the top of the head. Moraes dropped immediately. Sandhagen followed with punches on the ground and referee Marc Goddard stopped the fight at 1:03 of round two. It was one of the cleanest spinning wheel kick finishes in UFC bantamweight history.
What made Buckley’s KO at UFC Fight Night 179 so extraordinary?
Buckley’s KO was extraordinary because he threw a spinning back kick to the head while Kasanganay was holding his other leg. The physics of the strike — landing a fight-ending head kick while one leg was elevated and controlled by the opponent — made it one of the most technically complex finishes ever achieved in MMA. The moment went immediately viral and has been cited by multiple commentators as the greatest KO in UFC history.
Which future champions made their UFC debut at Fight Night 179?
Tom Aspinall (debut TKO win), Ilia Topuria (debut UD win), and Dricus du Plessis (debut KO win) all made their UFC entrances at FN 179. Aspinall went on to become the interim UFC Heavyweight Champion. Topuria became the UFC Featherweight Champion. Du Plessis became the UFC Middleweight Champion. The card is remarkable for having produced three future champions in a single undercard.
What happened to Marlon Moraes after UFC Fight Night 179?
Moraes went on a five-fight losing streak following the Sandhagen loss, including defeats to Rob Font, Merab Dvalishvili, Song Yadong, Urijah Faber, and Jimmie Rivera. He was released from the UFC in 2023. The Sandhagen loss is widely viewed as the pivotal moment that began his decline from elite bantamweight contention.
Did Sandhagen win the UFC title after UFC Fight Night 179?
Sandhagen earned a title shot against Petr Yan at UFC 267 in October 2021 following his FN 179 win, but lost by unanimous decision. He continued to compete near the top of the bantamweight division, and his path to the title remained active for years afterward.
References
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