Nolan reveals Sandhagen's 'dart shot' technique secured his UFC contract on Contender Series

Tom Nolan credits a Cory Sandhagen online striking course with helping him punch his way onto the UFC roster, revealing the story ahead of his first UFC main event against Renato “Money” Moicano at UFC Vegas 123 at the Apex in Las Vegas.

Before his 2023 Dana White’s Contender Series appearance, Nolan reached out to the veteran bantamweight directly. “I messaged Cory before my Contender Series knockout,” Nolan said in a pre-fight interview. “I was studying his online course. I messaged him, I said, ‘Hey, I’m fighting on Contender Series in two weeks and I’m gonna knock this dude out with one of your techniques.’ And I actually used the dart shot that he teaches.”

Nolan made good on the promise, finishing Bogdan Grad and earning a UFC contract. The Australian lightweight’s willingness to cold-message an established UFC fighter — and then back it up inside the cage — speaks to the confidence that has defined his rise through the promotion.

The road since has not been entirely smooth. Nolan (11-1) suffered his only professional defeat in his UFC debut in 2024, but he has responded with five consecutive victories to put himself in position for a main event slot.

Now facing Moicano — a seasoned contender with wins over some of the division’s best — Nolan steps into the biggest fight of his career. The Sandhagen story adds an unusual footnote to his journey: a technique learned from an online course, a bold promise to a stranger, and a knockout that changed the trajectory of his career.