UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo

Cory Sandhagen launches into a flying knee attempt on Marlon Vera. Credit: Zuffa LLC.

The UFC heads to the Wells Fargo Center in Des Moines, Iowa, with a fantastic Fight Night card. This card is filled from top to bottom with exciting matchups, established veterans, and impressive newcomers all looking to earn a victory on Saturday night. In the co-main event, two outstanding grapplers go toe-to-toe when Bo Nickal faces Reinier de Ridder. In the main event, perennial Bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen will take on the former Flyweight champion, Deiveson Figueiredo. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Jeremy Stephens vs. Mason Jones

Jeremy Stephens unloads ground and pound onto Dooho Choi. Credit: Essentially Sports.

Lightweight Bout

Jeremy Stephens: 29-21-0, 19 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Mason Jones: 15-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Stephens is making his return to MMA after a successful three-year run in BKFC, where he scored notable victories over Eddie Alvarez and Jimmie Rivera. He was formerly a member of the UFC roster from 2007 to 2021, in which time he was awarded 10 post-fight bonuses and scored the second most knockdowns in UFC history. He’s a heavy-handed striker who’s constantly coming forward and throwing bombs. Stephens throws everything with power and in combination, regularly unloading looping hooks and heavy overhands. Training at Alliance MMA, he’s unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges but has solid takedown defense and a purple belt in BJJ. He tends to favor his hands but will throw heavy leg kicks from range and varies his punches well, attacking the head and body evenly. Stephens earned 8 of his fifteen victories during his initial UFC tenure via knockout and is always in pursuit of a finish.

Mason Jones fires a right hand at Adam Proctor. Credit: Cage Warriors.

Jones has won four of his last five fights and is returning to the UFC after three years in Cage Warriors. He’s a well-rounded scrapper who’s willing to engage the fight anywhere. He holds black belts in Judo and BJJ, but is comfortable fighting on his feet, primarily utilizing his stand-up abilities to secure his recent victories. Jones holds the center of the cage well and is constantly pressing forward while unloading crisp combinations. He will regularly throw kicks from range and at the end of punch combinations, occasionally mixing in some flashy spinning kicks. Training at Pedro Bessa BJJ, he averaged over three takedowns per fifteen minutes in his initial UFC tenure and defended 80% of takedowns attempted on him. Jones has finished three of his four consecutive victories via knockout, and heats up as the fight continues. 

Cameron Smotherman vs. Serhiy Sidey

Cameron Smotherman fires a jab at Jake Hadley. Credit: Getty Images.

Bantamweight Bout

Cameron Smotherman: 12-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Serhiy Sidey: 11-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Smotherman has won four of his last five bouts and has a UFC victory over Jake Hadley (12-4-0). He’s a powerful, technical striker who’s always dangerous. He maintains a consistent pace and has excellent cardiovascular endurance, easily carrying his power and speed across three rounds. Smotherman has power in both hands and tends to headhunt, throwing every shot with knockout intentions. He’s most comfortable on his feet but is a competent defensive grappler, possessing solid chokes, and is capable of surviving off his back. He can do significant damage without much space, especially with his knees, which he’ll throw regularly. Smotherman has one-shot knockout power and can create a highlight finish at any time. 

Serhiy Sidey cracks Garret Armfield with a right hand. Credit: The Canadian Press.

Sidey has won four of his last five outings, with a UFC victory coming over Garrett Armfield (10-5-0). He’s a dangerous striker with power in his hands and solid chokes. He fights behind his jab and keeps his punches straight while regularly throwing kicks from range. Sidey is constantly looking to land damage inside the pocket, particularly with his elbows and knees. He’s comfortable on his feet but is willing to grapple and will continuously pursue chokes if his opponent attempts a takedown. Training at the Burlington Training Centre, he’s always willing to exchange on the inside but will mix in some flashy strikes like jumping knees and spinning backfists. Sidey can maintain a solid pace throughout the fight and has secured half of his finishes after the first round. 

#15 Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos

Montel Jackson unloads ground and pound shots onto Da’Mon Blackshear. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Montel Jackson: 14-2-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Daniel Marcos: 17-0-0, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Jackson is on a five-fight win streak and has UFC victories over Da’Mon Blackshear (17-7-1), Julio Arce (19-6-0), and Rani Yahya (28-12-1). He’s a well-rounded fighter with one-punch knockout power and excellent wrestling skills. He won’t telegraph punches, throwing every shot with impressive speed and power while remaining technical and picking his spots. Jackson will regularly blitz forward to unload a quick combination of straights and hooks before returning to range unscathed. He’s landing, on average, over three takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC and will constantly look to posture up and land damage when in top position. He’s highly elusive and defensively sound, rarely absorbing much damage and typically staying out of the pocket where he can use his length. Jackson has outlanded all of his UFC opponents and has scored at least one knockdown in seven consecutive fights.

Daniel Marcos blasts Saimon Oliveira with a powerful right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Marcos is undefeated and has UFC victories over Davey Grant (16-7-0), John Castaneda (21-8-0), and Adrian Yañez (17-6-0). He’s a powerful, accurate striker who’s always coming forward. He has excellent distance management and footwork, regularly moving in and out of the pocket without taking much damage. Marcos always remains technical, keeping his punches tight and straight while never telegraphing or overextending. He has particularly dangerous knees and will constantly mix them into combinations, both to the body and head. Training at American Combat Gym, he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has shown solid takedown defense and is strong in the clinch. Marcos has serious power in his hands and tends to increase his pace as the fight continues, scoring five of his eight knockouts after round one.

Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez

Santiago Ponzinibbio pops Miguel Baeza with a jab. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Welterweight Bout

Santiago Ponzinibbio: 31-8-0, 17 KO/TKO, 6 Sub.

Daniel Rodriguez: 18-5-0, 8 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Ponzinibbio has won two of his last five fights, with UFC wins coming over Neil Magny (29-14-0), Carlston Harris (19-7-0), and Alex Morono (24-12-0). Training at American Top Team, he is an impressive striker with serious power, using various unpredictable attacks to get the job done. He has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a solid submission game, but is unlikely to take the fight to the mat. Ponzinibbio remains technical throughout the fight and is comfortable fighting at range and in the pocket. Averaging about 66 significant strikes landed per fight in his last five bouts, he has a great chin, solid cardio, and can push a consistent pace across 15 minutes. An established veteran, He has been a pro since 2008 and is comfortable in any position. Fifteen of Ponzinibbio’s 23 career finishes have come in the first round, so he’s very dangerous early on.

Daniel Rodriguez fires a head kick at Li Jingliang. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Rodriguez has won two of his last bouts and has UFC victories over Mike Perry (14-8-0), Tim Means (33-17-1), and Li Jingliang (19-9-0). He’s a technical Muay Thai striker who favors kicks over punches. He remains composed throughout the fight, fighting behind his jab and constantly pursuing a finish without getting sloppy. Training at Xtreme Couture, Rodriguez has excellent movement and footwork, attacking from different angles with a variety of strikes. He has swift kicks, usually throwing to the legs at the beginning and end of combinations. He’s proven highly durable, regularly surviving in deep waters and finding his way back into fights. Rodriguez is unlikely to initiate grappling exchanges but has solid takedown defense and does an excellent job of getting back to his feet, where he’s most comfortable.

#13 Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal

Reinier de Ridder submits Gerald Meerschaert with an arm triangle choke. Credit: MMA Mania.

Middleweight Bout

Reinier de Ridder: 19-2-0, 4 KO/TKO, 13 Sub.

Bo Nickal: 7-0-0, 2 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

De Ridder has won three of his last five outings, with UFC victories over Gerald Meerschaert (37-18-0) and Kevin Holland (27-13-0). He’s a former ONE Championship Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion and is an outstanding, dangerous grappler. He has an awkward striking style, remaining upright, fighting behind his jab, and throwing kicks at range before closing the distance. De Ridder is powerful in the clinch and constantly looks for body lock and trip takedowns, often from the opening bell. He has heavy top control and is continually attacking and improving in top position, fluidly moving from position to position. He has black belts in Judo and BJJ and uses ground and pound to wear down his opponent and create submission openings, typically pursuing chokes. De Ridder pushes a consistent pace throughout, but has found nine of his thirteen submissions in round one and is most dangerous early on.

Bo Nickal locks in a rear naked choke on Cody Brundage. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Nickal is undefeated and has UFC victories over Paul Craig (17-9-1), Val Woodburn (7-2-0), and Cody Brundage (11-6-0). He is a former three-time NCAA D1 collegiate wrestling champion who is very comfortable in the Octagon despite his inexperience in MMA. Unsurprisingly, he is an excellent grappler who will shoot early and secure an advantageous position very quickly. Nickal transitions at lightning speed on the ground and pursues submissions immediately once the fight hits the mat, using excellent top control to secure a finish. Training at American Top Team, his constant wrestling threat makes him very unpredictable on the feet. He has solid power in his hands and good distance management. Nickal has only been to one decision and has produced three finishes in less than a minute.

#4 Cory Sandhagen vs. #5 Deiveson Figueiredo

Cory Sandhagen stuns Marlon Vera with a left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Bantamweight Bout

Cory Sandhagen: 17-5-0, 7 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Deiveson Figueiredo: 24-4-1, 9 KO/TKO, 9 Sub.

Sandhagen has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #6 ranked Bantamweight Song Yadong (22-8-1), #7 ranked Bantamweight Marlon Vera (23-10-1), and #8 ranked Bantamweight Rob Font (22-8-0). He is a top-level striker, constantly moving and setting traps for his opponent. He can land damage from range with his arsenal of kicks or on the inside with devastating knees and elbows. Training with Elevation Fight Team, Sandhagen has excellent cardio and can push a heavy pace across five rounds while remaining technical and keeping his strikes straight and tight. He’s constantly switching stances and never telegraphs his shots, regularly mixing kicks in at the end of punch combinations. He’s willing to grapple and will pursue takedowns, has solid top control, and rarely puts himself in bad positions on the ground. Sandhagen has only lost to current or former champions in his UFC tenure and will go toe-to-toe with anybody.

Deiveson Figueiredo blasts Brandon Moreno with a powerful uppercut. Credit: MMA Fighting.

Figueiredo has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Flyweight Brandon Moreno (23-8-2), #7 ranked Bantamweight Marlon Vera (23-10-1), and #8 ranked Bantamweight Rob Font (22-8-0). He has devastating power in his hands, constantly unloading brutal combinations onto his opponents. He used this power to tear through the Flyweight division, holding the most knockdowns in Flyweight history with 11, and is tied for the most finishes at Flyweight, with 7. Training with Team Figueiredo, he is willing to engage in the fight anywhere, has a solid guard on the bottom, and is highly dangerous in top position. He moves impressively fast on the mat, often securing submissions with blinding speed. He quickly closes the distance on the feet and can land severe damage without much space, usually with his hands. Figueiredo constantly pursues a finish but has solid cardio and can comfortably go 25 minutes if needed.

Best Bets

Cameron Smotherman Moneyline: This is an intriguing matchup of two UFC newcomers looking to make their name with a landmark victory. Both are talented strikers but utilize different styles: Smotherman is more of a technical boxer, whereas Sidey is much less orthodox, typically favoring his elbows and knees. Although Sidey has the reach advantage in this matchup, he seems most comfortable inside the pocket, which benefits the shorter Smotherman. Smotherman also has excellent distance management and head movement, typically forcing his opponents onto the back foot and to the outside of the octagon. This will present issues for Sidey, who does most of his damage by quickly crashing into the pocket with forward momentum. Sidey also tends to fade and get wilder as the fight continues, while Smotherman remains sharp and technical throughout. I expect Smotherman to weather the storm of Sidey, maintain control of the center of the cage, and use precise striking to earn the victory.

Bo Nickal Moneyline: We’ll see two top-level grapplers collide in this matchup. Although both are outstanding on the mat, they excel in different styles; de Ridder is much more of a BJJ-based grappler, whereas Nickal is a true wrestler. Although neither is a prolific striker, I believe the odd tendencies and awkwardness of de Ridder’s striking are to the benefit of Nickal. De Ridder tends to leave his chin straight up or try to pull his head back out of the way of strikes, as opposed to slipping to the side. Nickal is constantly hunting for overhands on the feet, and if de Ridder regularly leaves his chin up, those shots will be there for Nickal. Also, given Nickal's wrestling advantage, de Ridder will likely have a tough time landing his takedowns, something he typically relies on heavily. Although it was against a much larger opponent in Anatoly Malykhin, we’ve seen de Ridder completely gas out and give up if all his takedowns are denied. I don’t believe Nickal has to take this fight to the mat, and realistically, de Ridder wouldn’t mind working off his back in this matchup. I expect Nickal to defend takedowns early from de Ridder, have success on the feet, and ultimately control the fight en route to victory.

Cory Sandhagen by Decision: An outstanding matchup of two exceptional, well-rounded contenders, I can’t wait for this to hit the cage. Both are proficient anywhere the fight goes, but favor their striking, with Figueiredo using his speed and power to land damage and hunt for knockouts. Sandhagen is a much slicker, measured striker, utilizing his length and elusiveness to pick apart and batter his opponents. Although there’s only a two-inch difference in reach, this is the most significant height disadvantage Figueiredo has ever been at, with Sandhagen standing six inches taller than the Brazilian. While height and reach don’t mean everything, having that size advantage benefits Sandhagen's style greatly. It makes it significantly harder for Figueiredo to rush into the pocket with big power punches, where he secures many of his finishes. It also allows Sandhagen to remain at kicking range much more often, skirting around the outside and using his length to land from a distance where Figueiredo can’t return fire. Sandhagen also has outstanding takedown defense, so even if Figueiredo gets frustrated and wants to wrestle, that won’t be an easy out for him. Ultimately, I expect Sandhagen to stay on the outside, popping Figueiredo and lighting him up from range, slowly wearing him down over five rounds to earn a massive victory over a former champion.