Cory Sandhagen Continues to Evolve
Cory Sandhagen may still be improving. The consistent bantamweight contender made a strong impression on Saturday at UFC Des Moines by defeating former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo with a stoppage in the second round at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.
Dominant Performance
Sandhagen (18-5) quickly engaged with Figueiredo (24-5-1), using powerful leg kicks and clever punching combinations to disrupt his opponent. His offense was complemented by numerous grappling exchanges, whether initiated by him or Figueiredo.
Strategic Grounds Game
While Figueiredo managed to take Sandhagen down early on, he was unable to keep control despite attempting leg locks. This inclination to grapple ultimately backfired as Sandhagen capitalized on openings, delivering strikes with punches and elbows before executing sweeps that caused an injury to Figueiredo’s knee, leading to the second-round stoppage.
Title Aspirations
At 33, Sandhagen has now bested two former UFC champions, aiming for a long-desired title shot following his return to winning form. “I’ve dreamed of being a world champion for more than half of my life,” Sandhagen stated after the fight. “UFC, please grant me a chance to showcase my greatness to the world. Please.”
Looking Ahead
Sandhagen’s newfound confidence stems from the lessons learned after his recent loss to Umar Nurmagomedov. His title hopes rest on the results of the upcoming rematch between UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili and former champ Sean O’Malley set for UFC 316 in June.
Figueiredo’s Challenges
Figueiredo faced a tough challenge against Sandhagen and has struggled since moving to the bantamweight division, recording his second loss at this weight class and experiencing his first career losing streak. Statistics revealed a significant disparity, as Sandhagen outstruck Figueiredo by an overwhelming margin of 92 to 8, despite both landing two takedowns each.
Co-Main Event Outcomes
In the co-main event, former two-division ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder (20-2) showcased his skills by handing middleweight prospect Bo Nickal (8-1) his first professional defeat with a powerful second-round knee strike. Like Sandhagen, de Ridder kept the pressure on his opponent from the start and is now 3-0 in the Octagon, calling out former middleweight champion Sean Strickland for a future matchup.
