UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen submits Deiveson Figueiredo due to injury
DES MOINES, Iowa — Bantamweight Cory Sandhagen defeated Deiveson Figueiredo in unexpected fashion on Saturday night, forcing the former two-time flyweight champion to submit due to injury to his left knee after a leg lock gone wrong in Round 2.Round 1 of the top-five main event at UFC Fight Night was all Sandhagen.He took Figueiredo to the ground and overwhelmed him with strikes while not allowing Figueiredo to get comfortable.The fight was over at 4:08 of Round 2.Sandhagen (18-5 MMA) called for a title shot later this year, noting beating someone of Figueiredo’s caliber greatly increases his credibility.
Meanwhile, Figueiredo (24-5-1) goes back to the drawing board.“I want the winner,” Sandhagen said, as he plans to keep tabs on the UFC 316 main event between bantamweights Merab Dvalishvilli and Sean O’Malley on June 7 in Newark, N.J.The co-main event saw former ONE Championship star Reinier de Ridder hand former Penn State wrestling standout Bo Nickal his first loss in MMA, earning a second-round TKO.Middleweight de Ridder (20-2) used a wide-ranging combination and a plethora of knees to finish Nickal (7-1) at 1:53.Welterweight Daniel Rodriguez got the last laugh over Santiago Ponzinibbio, earning a third-round KO in a back-and-forth affair that had spectators on their feet.
Rodriguez (19-5) gave respect to Ponzinibbio (31-9) and is seeking to remain active for the rest of the year.Bantamweight Montel Jackson had little issue defeating Daniel Marcos, securing a unanimous decision by 30-27 on all three judges’ scorecards.Jackson (15-2) handed Marcos his first loss in 18 fights, while Jackson has won six in a row and showcased a well-rounded skillset with constant pressure in Rounds 2 and 3.Bantamweight Serhiy Sidey won an underwhelming unanimous decision against Cameron Smotherman 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 in a wrestle-based bout.
Sidey (12-2) has won his last two, while Smotherman (12-5) fell to 1-1 in the promotion.Lightweight Mason Jones opened the UFC ...