5 Hits And 3 Misses From UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

On Saturday, the UFC continued its street journey by touring to town of Des Moines, Iowa — a state that the promotion hadn’t visited in over 20 years.

You need to discuss all of the locations the UFC hasn’t been to, or isn’t going to, because the begin of the COVID-19 pandemic? Strive having to attend since The Darkish Ages of the UFC. The final UFC occasion to happen in Iowa was when Cedar Rapids hosted UFC 26 in June 2000. The one different occasion in Iowa apart from that? When the 5 Seasons Occasions Heart additionally hosted UFC 21 a few 12 months earlier.

The UFC seemed to carry a memorable night time of motion to the state to make up for its extended absence, and it seemed to take action with a foremost occasion popping out of the stellar bantamweight division. UFC Des Moines was headlined by Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo doing battle in a conflict of top-5 contenders at 135 kilos.

Sandhagen has been a broadly widespread and entertaining fighter within the division since he made his UFC debut in the beginning of 2018. He’s at all times been one to compete with the perfect, and if you happen to take a look at his losses coming into UFC Des Moines, he’s solely ever misplaced to the elite. That stated, he at all times appears to be one step wanting lastly capturing even a shot on the bantamweight title. That was seen in his final outing, dropping to Umar Nurmagomedov in the primary occasion of UFC Abu Dhabi final August.

Figueiredo, after all, as soon as dominated the flyweight scene, having reigned as UFC flyweight champion twice whereas occurring an epic quadrilogy with Brandon Moreno. Since becoming a member of the bantamweight division on the finish of 2023, although, Figgy has had successes right here, too. After the division-debuting win over Rob Font, Figueiredo scored a submission of former champion Cody Garbrandt at UFC 300 and a call over former title challenger Marlon “Chito” Vera at UFC Abu Dhabi. Figgy, nonetheless, entered UFC Des Moines off a loss to Petr Yan at UFC Macau.

Whereas each foremost occasion rivals seemed to bounce again from losses in a division stacked with expertise, one other title, Bo Nickal, seemed to maintain his undefeated file in tact in his greatest check but, taking up examined veteran and former ONE champion Reinier de Ridder within the UFC Des Moines co-main occasion. The remainder of the cardboard additionally featured motion from the likes of Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez and the UFC returns of each Jeremy Stephens and Mason Jones — who competed in opposition to each other.

Who delivered within the Hawkeye State? Who didn’t? Let’s go into it along with the hits and misses of UFC Des Moines!

Hit – Gillian Robertson

Earlier than the primary card motion, the UFC Des Moines prelims even featured some motion from present noteworthy contenders — a top-15 contenders battle at ladies’s strawweight between Marina Rodriguez and Gillian Robertson and one at ladies’s bantamweight (which served because the featured prelim) between Miesha Tate and Yana Santos.

And of all 4 of those girls, Robertson maybe stood out as not simply probably the most spectacular of this bunch, however maybe probably the most spectacular out of all of the prelim fighters.

Robertson seemed to dominate on the bottom and did simply that with over 5 minutes of management day out of the seven or so minutes the combat lasted. Robertson pressured and landed massive floor pictures throughout the first spherical. Rodriguez could have went for a submission throughout the second spherical, however Robertson bought out of it and went again to her vicious assault till the referee waved off the combat.

It was an applicable efficiency for somebody nicknamed “The Savage” as she despatched Rodriguez into retirement.

Robertson has been within the UFC since season 26 of The Final Fighter, and she or he’s at all times been entertaining to look at. However one thing has REALLY clicked for her since shifting again all the way down to strawweight. Robertson has gained six of her final seven and is now 5-1 since her drop to 115, along with her sole loss in that stretch coming in opposition to Tabatha Ricci — somebody she must be proper subsequent to within the high 10 at minimal when the brand new rankings get launched.

Now this presents some fascinating potential top-10 contender battles for Robertson in opposition to the likes of Jessica Andrade, Mackenzie Dern, Amanda Ribas or perhaps a Ricci rematch. And if she performs as properly in opposition to these fighters as she does in opposition to Rodriguez, the strawweight division higher be careful.

Hit – Azamat Bekoev

Azamat Bekoev’s UFC debut was so good, the type of efficiency he had in that combat he needed to do twice. After placing on an awesome displaying in opposition to Zachary Reese at UFC 311 in January, Bekoev constructed on that preliminary robust outing when he took on The Final Fighter season 32 winner Ryan Loder throughout the preliminary card.

Loder seemed to make use of his wrestling abilities on Bekoev early on, however Bekoev battled again by reversing the place and unleashing his fingers. Bekoev rocked Loder and continued to land, hitting Loder with a powerful knee and a proper hand that dropped Loder earlier than unleashing extra ground-and-pound till the combat was stopped.

Bekoev completed Loder 20 seconds sooner than he did Reese.

The American High Staff product has now gained seven straight and eight of his final 10. This included a short run as LFA middleweight champion earlier than moving into the Octagon for the primary time.

Bekoev additionally now has ten first-round finishes to his title. And if he will get an eleventh — which might make him 3-0 within the UFC with three first-round finishes — then Bekoev goes to solidify himself as each somebody to regulate and somebody who’d want harder competitors.

Hit – Jeremy Stephens vs. Mason Jones

Whereas the primary and co-main occasions of UFC Des Moines had consideration on them, the published additionally repeatedly overvalued the primary card’s opener that includes the returns of Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens and Mason Jones. Stephens has been a longtime face of the UFC however hadn’t fought within the promotion — or in MMA for that matter — since 2021. And whereas he has at all times been an entertaining fighter, he had gained in MMA simply as soon as in his earlier 9. Jones, in the meantime, was in search of a rebound after going simply 1-2-1 in his first stint with the promotion.

And whereas just one particular person may come out on high, the 2 of them delivered an absolute banger.

Jones seemed to get to an early begin by unleashing a flurry of punches and leg kicks — however Stephens, the hometown hero and BKFC star, fought fireplace with fireplace. Whereas Jones bought the higher of the exchanges, Stephens nonetheless confirmed off his energy and secured a takedown. Jones seemed to get off to a different scorching begin within the second, and the end result was a spherical the place each males bought bloodied and battered earlier than Jones scored a takedown and a few ground-and-pound.

Jones then fought tactically within the third, using his grappling to subdue Stephens’ offense en path to a transparent resolution victory.

For Jones, this was precisely the efficiency he wanted to get again heading in the right direction and proceed the run of success he had from the four-fight win streak in Cage Warriors he entered with in tonight’s UFC return. And for Stephens, if this was a one-time return, then what a efficiency it was. If that is the beginning of yet one more run, then hopefully it’s as entertaining as this combat was.

Miss – Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos

For a combat that featured somebody ranked No. 15 of their division and somebody making an attempt to interrupt into the rankings after hyping himself up, Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos didn’t dwell as much as expectations.

Specifically, for Marcos to lose his undefeated run within the method that he did — particularly together with his earlier wins over the likes of Davey Grant and Adrian Yañez — was, truthfully, fairly embarrassing.

Whereas Marcos repeatedly pursued takedowns throughout the combat, touchdown three of them, they have been fairly ineffective, with Jackson simply in a position to work his method out of them. And Marcos didn’t appear to do any harm in opposition to Jackson. Jackson had scored his personal couple of takedowns and was touchdown the higher leg kicks and combos when there was any buying and selling. He even had a submission try at one level.

Don’t get me flawed — this wasn’t an awesome efficiency from Jackson both. It’s not one you place out when making an attempt to maneuver up the ranks. However the factor is — it didn’t must be to get the win right here. He simply fully iced Marcos’ recreation. And whereas I perceive making an attempt to point out power on the finish of the combat, I hope Marcos didn’t truly suppose he was robbed right here.

For Marcos, this must be a wake-up name — if he needs to compete with the higher fighters in his division, he must placed on a show that was rather a lot higher than the one we noticed in Des Moines.

Hit – It’s Time For The Reinier De Ridder Slander To Cease

Reinier de Ridder could have been one of the vital disrespected members of the UFC roster when he got here to the UFC late final 12 months. He’s been in a state of affairs the place if he loses, then the one motive he’s right here is simply to bury ONE Championship. And on this case, it appeared like he was being positioned as a lamb to slaughter in opposition to the UFC’s younger golden boy in Bo Nickal.

Sadly for the UFC, this lamb bit and fought again with a stable grappling recreation and lethal knees.

I assume these within the MMA group who buried this combat, and possibly even individuals within the UFC, neglected the truth that RdR was a judo and jiu-jitsu specialist. They neglected his pair of silver medals on the European Brazilian jiu-jitsu championships in 2016 and 2017. They neglected his 13 MMA victories by way of submission.

And whereas Nickal could have been an NCAA champion at Penn State, the previous ONE champ-champ’s grappling expertise was on full show, changing into the primary man to place Nickal on his again within the Octagon. And once they fought in shut throughout the second spherical, de Ridder was good sufficient to note Nickal’s adverse reactions to getting kneed within the physique. Nickal ate shot after shot whereas coping with that ache, and one other knee to the physique compelled him into ball up because the referee stopped the combat.

I get that de Ridder’s UFC debut in opposition to Gerald Meerschaert wasn’t one of the best efficiency. However the reality he submitted him, scored a first-round submission of Kevin Holland and now took out a younger insanely hyped prospect in Nickal…it’s time to deal with de Ridder as a severe title at middleweight. It’s time to get him a top-10 opponent. Let’s see what de Ridder does in opposition to somebody like a Marvin Vettori, Jared Cannonier or Roman Dolidze.

Miss – The Compelled Push Of Bo Nickal Bites Him

Paige VanZant. Darren Until. Sage Northcutt. All three of those names are fighters who’re recognized within the circles of MMA as fighters who have been pushed too rapidly and their careers suffered for it.

Now, I’m not going to place Bo Nickal’s title on this circle but, after all. However if you happen to take a look at the historical past of the UFC, there have been a number of — I ought to even a lot — of instances the place the promotion has somebody of explicit curiosity. They usually push this particular person by way of the promotion for his or her fights and even their placements on the playing cards. And most of the time, these fighters usually are not but prepared for such an expertise, such opponents, and so they find yourself taking an enormous defeat.

This isn’t actually to trash Nickal. That is extra to say the UFC simply doesn’t study.

Reinier de Ridder was not the particular person for Bo Nickal to combat right here. I perceive Nickal was coming off a win in opposition to Paul Craig — a savvy and widespread combat veteran. However Craig is 37 and has gained simply as soon as since mid-2022. RdR is 34, a former ONE champion at middleweight and light-weight heavyweight and a very good submission specialist who has had years of expertise within the sport and a ranked UFC middleweight contender.

However Nickal was pushed closely, and his confidence stage didn’t assist issues.

Nickal remains to be younger. There are losses that may be useful. There are losses which might be simply temporary setbacks. That is the primary time in his MMA profession that the younger man is dealing with adversity. If he can study from it, this shall be an awesome expertise for him in the long term. If he can return within the gymnasium and work on his protection, work with actually skilled veterans, work on his putting, Nickal can come out of this wanting like 1,000,000 bucks and successful story. However that is additionally depending on the UFC pacing themselves proper with Nickal and never burning him out rapidly.

Individuals within the MMA sphere already have been skeptical and demanding about issues from Nickal’s placement on the UFC 300 foremost card over different standout abilities and his placement as a featured combat at New York’s Madison Sq. Backyard at UFC 309. If the UFC places him ready the place he isn’t prepared once more, they might have nobody accountable however themselves if Nickal’s profession within the Octagon doesn’t pan out.

Miss – Deiveson Figueiredo’s Harm

After all of the anticipation for this top-5 contenders’ battle, this isn’t how the results of the Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo foremost occasion ought to have gone down.

It was a enjoyable combat for the time it lasted, don’t get me flawed. However it was disappointing that slightly than give attention to defending Sandhagen’s putting assault on the bottom throughout the first spherical, Figgy was extra centered on Sandhagen’s legs and making an attempt for a submission.

Figueiredo took the combat to the second, however his methods ended up having a nasty end result. Throughout one transition on the bottom, Figueiredo’s leg bent again to an uncomfortable — and unnatural — place that put him in a world of ache, forcing him to faucet from the ache whereas Sandhagen rained down punches.

Let’s hope this isn’t going to maintain Figueiredo out some time. And every time he does come again, he nonetheless has all of the expertise on the earth to be a viable title at 135. However the former flyweight champ has now dropped two straight for the primary time in his profession; he had come into this combat off a loss to former bantamweight champ Petr Yan in Macau.

Hopefully for Figueiredo’s sake, he comes again from this outing to placed on a classic, power-filled show we’ve all seen Figueiredo have earlier than as he appears to be like to get again on a proper path towards a bantamweight title shot.

Hit – Cory Sandhagen: Is He Lastly Prepared For A Shot?

Talking of bantamweight title pictures, that’s what Cory Sandhagen is now on the hunt for.

As talked about, Sandhagen delivered an all-star efficiency, touchdown nice strikes on the bottom and ft, getting the higher in exchanges, and having the information of tips on how to work on the bottom.

The exchanges with Figgy have been enjoyable, however Sandhagen was clearly the higher fighter tonight — even when the harm didn’t determine the combat.

Even with Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley 2 booked for later this 12 months, there are requires Sandhagen to lastly get a title shot some really feel he has lengthy deserved. Sandhagen has persistently been a powerful performer within the division however has at all times come up one combat brief in a technique or one other. He misplaced to current title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov in his final outing previous to this card, and he got here one combat wanting difficult for the title in 2020, dropping a title eliminator to future champ Aljamain Sterling.

Clearly the division is stacked with names, and Yan very properly may very well be subsequent in line for a rematch with both Dvalishvili or O’Malley, relying on who comes out on high within the title combat. However what this efficiency from “The Sandman” reveals is that, if something, he ought to solely be, at most, a combat away from difficult for the gold.

Source link