In an impressive show of sportsmanship and skill, Cory Sandhagen—best known for his knockout power—showcased his grappling skills on the canvas against Deiveson Figueiredo.
The bantamweight bout headlined the event, and it did not disappoint as both fighters came into the cage exchanging punches in the earlier rounds. Figueiredo decided to take the fight to the floor to display his wrestling and overwhelm Sandhagen, but the fighter was prepared for the move.
Figueiredo went for an early takedown, but Sandhagen reversed the position and unleashed heavy ground-and-pound. Figueiredo managed to keep his defense up while searching for a submission, but Sandhagen had the reach advantage. A hard right from Figueiredo briefly stunned Sandhagen, but it was too late. Sandhagen stayed on top, controlling the fight with strikes and punches. As much as Figueiredo tried to stay dominant, Sandhagen maintained his position both standing and on the ground, slipping through every hold and countering with clean strikes.
In round two, “Sandman” didn’t relent and continued gaining the upper hand. He took advantage of a grappling exchange and locked up the Brazilian in a position that caused Figueiredo’s knee to pop when he tried to sit up. Figueiredo attempted to fight through the injury, but Sandhagen noticed it and signaled the stoppage to protect his opponent.
“Nothing fires you up like a loss,” Sandhagen said after his win. “I got a really good team behind me. I’m going to be champ one day. I’ve just got to keep working, working, working. That was a big ‘W’ for me. I’m just grateful for it.”
Following his win, Sandhagen called out the champ and said he’s ready for a title shot. This isn’t the fighter’s first attempt at calling out the champ.
“Sean O’Malley, Merab, I want the winner,” Sandhagen said. “I’ll be the backup if they want. I’ve dreamed of being a world champion for more than half of my life now. UFC, please give me an opportunity to show how great I am to the whole world. Please.”
Figueiredo, on the other hand, looked defeated after the loss. His injury puts him in a tough spot, as it will take time to recover from the unspecified leg damage. Still, the fighter remains hopeful and looks forward to the next step in his career.
“The result is not always what we want, but the fight goes on,” Figueiredo said.
“I warmly thank God, my family, my team, and all of you who support and believe in me.”
After months of requesting for a fight with Bo Nickal, Reinier de Ridder finally gets his chance in the co-main event of UFC Des Moines. Reinier de Ridder displayed his superior striking as he peppered Bo Nickal with knees and heavy punches. Nickal landed some strong shots, but Ridder stayed sharp, throwing punches and threatening with takedowns. Nickal dove for a takedown and briefly scored a reversal, but Ridder quickly regained control and went for a guillotine choke.
Ridder stayed on top, though Nickal managed to scramble back to his feet. Ridder clinched in the second round and began firing body shots while Nickal struggled to recover. The constant assault dropped Nickal to the canvas, prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight. The win marked a huge moment for Ridder, who used the spotlight to call out a former middleweight champion.
“I was just going to say, I’ve been spending so much time in the U.S., I wanted to see if I was still Dutch,” de Ridder joked about his striking leading to the knockout.
“I wanted to say, this is the best American wrestling you have, right? Now give me the best American striker. [Sean] Strickland, you’re up, buddy! Let’s go.”
Despite the loss, Nickal expressed confidence that he would bounce back and use the experience to improve.
“Grateful for the highs and lows. I’ll be back.”
