DES MOINES, IOWA - MAY 03: in their bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Wells Fargo Arena on May 3, 2025 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)
Sandhagen Dominates Former Champion in Des Moines
The UFC was back in Iowa for the first time in 25 years and the Sandman shined.
Former Flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo career resurgence at up a weight class at Bantamweight came with a renewed dedication to grappling a gameplan Cory Sandhagen was fully prepared for. After eating a Sandhagen uppercut Figueiredo got Sandhagen down and for and moment was on the back. Sandhagen followed the BJJ black belt to the mat scoring with thudding ground and pounded while Figueiredo hunted to leg locks. In the second at long range Sandhagen was having his way level changed and double legged Figueiredo down. Figueiredo would scramble to top, and Sandhagen would trap a leg sitting up from 50/50 causing an injury to Figueiredo’s left leg for the finish. A very strong statement made from the Colorado fighter.
The Middleweight division has a new contender. After engaging in a grappling battle in the first round. Reinier de Ridder turned the aggression up, taking every opportunity to chip away at Bo Nickal’s body with knees and short punches. The body shots did their job, forcing Nickal to cover up and retreat. A perfect step in knee from RDR folded Nikal as it crushed through his organs for the second-round finish. The former two-division One champion proves he ready the big time. Having beaten the best American wrestler, the Dutchman called out “the best American striker” Sean Strickland.
As expected, Daniel Rodriguez and Santiago Ponzinibbio stood toe-to-toe sling leather. Rodriguez put his stamp on the first stunning Ponzinibbio with a left hook. In the third Rodriguez found the home for a five-punch combination dropping Ponzinibbio with a left hook and one shot on the ground for the finish.
Number 15 ranked Bantamweight contender Montel Jackson handed Daniel Marcos the first loss of his career. The American swept the scorecards while putting his still developing striking game on display.
Mason Jones made a successful return to the octagon while ruining the double homecoming of Jeremy Stephens who was returning home to Iowa and the UFC after 4-years away. Early on Jones kept Stephens on guard, firing away with kicks. Stephens punching power came into play in the second and Jones wrestled his way to the scorecards.
Former LFA Middleweight champion Azamat Bekoev is now 2-0 in the octagon after stopping TUF 32 winner Ryan Loder in the first round. Bekoev met Loder Physicality in the clinch. With Loder on the fence Bekoev went to his power a Left hook – right hook combination dropping Loder and ground strikes end it.
Plus, when the rankings are updated this coming week Gillian Robertson will be a top ten Women’s Strawweight. Robertson came out and established her willingness to strike before getting the fight to the ground and overwhelming Marina Rodriguez for the second round TKO. A fourth consecutive win for Robertson, while the 38-year-old Rodriguez called it a career in Des Moines. Full results here.
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