Bantamweights will be on the marquee for the
UFC’s first trip to Iowa since 2000.
Brazilian journalist Leo
Guimaraes first broke the news on Thursday that Cory
Sandhagen (17-5) and Deiveson
Figueiredo (24-4-1) would be throwing down on May 3. The two
135ers will serve as the main attraction to
UFC Des Moines, which will take place in the Wells Fargo Arena
in Iowa’s capital city. The pairing has since been confirmed by
other outlets.
Both fighters are coming off five-round decision losses to top
contenders. In August 2024, Sandhagen came back after a year layoff
to face Umar
Nurmagomedov, falling short to the Russian in a bout closer
than the scorecards of 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46 indicated. That
defeat halted a three-fight victorious stretch for the Colorado
native, who had forced the doctors to intervene in his 25-minute
match against Yadong Song
before claiming decision verdicts over Marlon Vera
and Rob
Font.
Former flyweight king also saw a three-fight win streak that
included wins over Font and Vera come to a close when Russia’s
Petr
Yan outworked him at UFC Fight Night 248 last year. “Daico”
relocated himself to 135 pounds in 2023 after a tetralogy against
Brandon
Moreno, where he ultimately surrendered the 125-pound strap
after a thrilling series. Along his way up the ladder, the
Brazilian also became the first fighter to submit ex-titleholder
Cody
Garbrandt, hitting a rear-naked choke on “No Love” at UFC
300.
UFC Des Moines, an event without a numbered designation at this
time due to unclear broadcast arrangements, will go down at the
Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on May 3. With the main event set,
a large portion of the main card is likely on the books. In
addition to Sandhagen-Figueiredo, fans will be treated to a
bantamweight showdown between Yana Santos
and Miesha Tate
as well as a strawweight clash pitting Marina
Rodriguez against Gillian
Robertson.