Cory Sandhagen is uninterested in being an also-ran.
Aljamain Sterling. T.J. Dillashaw. Petr Yan. Umar Nurmagomedov. These are Sandhagen’s 4 UFC losses and all 4 went on to battle for the bantamweight title of their very subsequent bookings after beating Sandhagen. It’s a tough footnote to have in your résumé. Sandhagen is clearly one of many 5 or 6 greatest bantamweights on the planet, however he’s but to show he deserves a shot at being No. 1.
That places some stress on him heading into Saturday’s UFC Des Moines important occasion as he takes on two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. The Brazilian star has finished nicely at 135 kilos, successful his first three fights within the division earlier than dropping a choice to Yan. Though Sandhagen has a substantial measurement benefit, Figueiredo remains to be a frightening hill to climb and the autumn might be precipitous if Sandhagen falters.
In different important card motion, former ONE Championship star Reinier de Ridder is tasked with testing blue-chip prospect Bo Nickal, Santiago Ponzinibbio and Daniel Rodriguez face off within the welterweight division’s senior circuit, Montel Jackson makes his annual look when he takes on the undefeated Daniel Marcos, bantamweights Cameron Smotherman and Serhiy Sidey look to steal the present, and Jeremy Stephens—sure, that Jeremy Stephens—makes a shock return to the UFC to face fellow returnee Mason Jones.
What: UFC Des Moines
The place: Wells Fargo Area in Des Moines, Iowa.
When: Saturday, Could 3. The six-fight preliminary card begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ESPN+, adopted by a six-fight important card at 10 p.m. ET additionally on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
(Numbers in parentheses point out standing within the MMA Combating International Rankings)
Cory Sandhagen (4) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (7)
The Cory Sandhagen contender storyline nonetheless has some life in it.
Sure, I’m choosing “The Sandman” to get the W right here and keep proper on the cusp of that elusive title shot. He matches up tremendous nicely with Deiveson Figueiredo. He’s means larger, he can deal with Figueiredo within the hanging division, and he has the takedown protection to stifle Figueiredo if the previous flyweight king switches up techniques on him.
There are many areas for concern for Sandhagen. Even a division up, Figueiredo’s energy has translated, and perhaps he will be the primary fighter to knock Sandhagen out. Unlikely, however doable. He’s additionally extra well-rounded, as evidenced by his traditional tetralogy with Brandon Moreno that explored each angle of the octagon.
However Sandhagen is favored for a motive and never only for his elite standup expertise. It’s doable he goes on the offensive together with his wrestling, utilizing his sheer measurement to sort out Figueiredo and frustrate him on the bottom. There’s a easy formulation for a Sandhagen win right here, all he has to do is observe the plan.
Sandhagen by choice.
Choose: Sandhagen
Reinier de Ridder (13) vs. Bo Nickal
Hoo boy, this one may get bowling shoe ugly.
First off, I used to be a fan of this reserving when it was introduced, and after analyzing all of the angles, I’m much more into it. Bo Nickal did sufficient to move the Paul Craig check, a big leap up in competitors, however it was hardly thrilling and it raised numerous questions as as to whether he’s being placed on the suitable developmental path. Reinier de Ridder, a two-division champion in ONE, is his eighth MMA opponent and one that would journey him up fairly badly.
Nickal is among the pound-for-pound greatest athletes within the sport proper now, so he has a bonus towards nearly any middleweight he’s matched up with. That features de Ridder, a slick grappler and a sensible fighter that Nickal ought to be capable of take down at will. He’s a three-time nationwide champion in wrestling. Why does he not simply do that? Maintain the martial arts aside, Bo!
Going to the bottom with the submission-minded de Ridder won’t be the most effective technique, but when Nickal is to regain some steam, it could be good to see him go to the self-discipline he’s higher at than nearly anybody on the planet. Positive, positive, combine in some cardio kickboxing, it’s all good. Simply wrestle a bit this time.
I’m prepared for something. A dreary middleweighty middleweight bout. Nickal trucking de Ridder. De Ridder outwitting Nickal and catching him with a submission. Something. It doesn’t matter what, I’m successful.
Choose: Nickal
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez
Age-appropriate matchmaking, thanks!
Santiago Ponzinibbio and Daniel Rodriguez each turned 38 on the tail finish of final 12 months and I’ve little interest in lining them up like bowling pins to be knocked down by the subsequent era of welterweights. Let’s present these guys some respect for his or her laborious work, please.
Even higher, each males wish to stand and strike so this matchup accommodates them completely. These two deliver related kickboxing kinds to the cage and we must be handled to a aggressive, skilled three-round scrap. Randy Brown and Nicolas Dalby delivered final week and Ponzinibbio and Rodriguez may ship related thrills (with out the wild end).
That is an extremely harsh factor to say, however in my estimation it’s Rodriguez who has misplaced extra of a step lately, regardless of having far much less cage time than Ponzinibbio (he’ll have formally have extra fights than years on this Earth when he makes the stroll Saturday). Neither man is understood for his or her high-octane model, however Ponzinibbio’s extra various assault has aged higher.
Ponzinibbio by choice.
Choose: Ponzinibbio
Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos
The place would Montel Jackson be if he was capable of get within the octagon greater than yearly? “Quik” is on a five-fight win streak, trailing solely Mario Bautista (7) and Merab Dvalishvili (11) for the longest within the bantamweight division, however you wouldn’t realize it as a result of his inactivity. He makes his 2025 debut after preventing simply as soon as in 2024, 2023, and 2022. And he’s an ideal fighter! Simply one thing to consider.
This division strikes so quick, it wouldn’t be a shock if somebody with much less UFC expertise—say, Daniel Marcos?—leapfrogged over him within the rankings. Marcos is a superb striker with severe energy in his proper hand and he can finish this one quick if Jackson makes a mistake. Happily for Jackson, he has a measurement and velocity benefit, to not point out having fought superior competitors.
Marcos is but to style defeat, however he’s had some bushy moments in latest fights and gotten away with them ultimately. He received’t be as fortunate towards Jackson, who will discover Marcos’ chin and end him within the first or second spherical.
Choose: Jackson
Cameron Smotherman vs. Serhiy Sidey
As a lot as I like the lads’s bantamweight division, I’ve questioned this one getting a important card spot as a result of relative anonymity Cameron Smotherman and Serhiy Sidey.
Is former girls’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate’s battle with Yana Santos undeserving of the latter half of the printed? What about ranked strawweights Marina Rodriguez and Gillian Robertson? And even simply an compulsory heavyweight bout between Thomas Petersen and Don’Story Mayes, a battle that screams “horrible!” however satisfies the matchmakers choice to throw massive fellows into the cage.
Anyway, these up-and-comers can shut me proper up with a Combat of the Night time efficiency, which must be what the UFC is banking on. Smotherman has some palms on him and whereas his all-around sport may use some work, his fan-friendly boxing ought to maintain him hanging round at 135 for the subsequent few years. As for Sidhey, he’s additionally extra inclined to make use of his grappling for protection, and he’ll welcome Smotherman to satisfy him on the ft.
Smotherman has had points with consistency, however I like his ceiling and I believe the most effective model of him can win that standup battle. I’m going with him to attain the minor upset.
Choose: Smotherman
Jeremy Stephens vs. Mason Jones
I do know I mentioned Smotherman and Sidhey may steal the present, however let’s be sincere: Jeremy Stephens vs. Mason Jones is the front-runner for FOTN.
Stephens, Des Moines born and bred, couldn’t resist the prospect to battle in his hometown regardless of the success he’s having in bare-knuckle boxing, so Uncle Dana did him a favor and booked him a cherry spot on the cardboard. He additionally gave him a keen dance accomplice in Jones, additionally making his UFC comeback after an entertaining 4-0 stint with Cage Warriors.
In case your enduring reminiscence of Jones’ preliminary UFC run was his banger of a debut towards Mike Davis, you’ll be happy to know his mindset has not modified. Positive, he has loads of technical talent, however when it comes all the way down to it, Jones needs to scrap and it’s a assure he meets Stephens within the center and throws down.
I’d like to see this go the space as a result of these two will batter one another for 3 rounds, however I really like Stephens to beat the percentages right here with a classic knockout. That Iowa air will reinvigorate “Lil’ Heathen” and push him to victory in what might be his final UFC hurrah.
Choose: Stephens
Preliminaries
Yana Santos (12) def. Miesha Tate
Azamat Bekoev def. Ryan Loder
Marina Rodriguez (9) def. Gillian Robertson (14)
Gaston Bolanos def. Quang Le
Thomas Petersen def. Don’Story Mayes
Ivana Petrovic def. Juliana Miller
