Cory Sandhagen-Deiveson Figueiredo prediction, pick: Who rules at UFC Des Moines?

USA Today

02-05-2025

Cory Sandhagen-Deiveson Figueiredo prediction, pick: Who rules at UFC Des Moines? Bantamweights headline UFC's long-awaited return to Iowa
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo | UFC on ESPN 67 Breakdown
MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom offers his breakdown and prediction for the UFC on ESPN 64 main event in Des Moines, Iowa.
MMA Junkie
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC on ESPN 67's main event between Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo.
Cory Sandhagen UFC Des Moines preview
Staple info:
Record: 17-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC
Height: 5'11" Age: 33 Weight: 135 lbs. Reach: 70"
Last fight: Decision loss to Umar Nurmagomedov (Aug. 3, 2024)
Camp: Elevation Fight Team (Denver2)
Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/kickboxing
Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ WKA world kickboxing champion
+ Amateur kickboxing accolades
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt
+ 7 KO victories
+ 3 submission wins
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Excellent feints and footwork
^ Manages distance/draws out attacks
+ Variates shot selection
^ Punctuates well with bodywork
+ Hard leg kicks
+ Improved wrestling ability
+ Underrated scrambling ability
^ Good getups and reversals
+ Solid transitional grappler
Deiveson Figueiredo UFC Des Moines preview
Staple info:
Record: 24-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC
Height: 5'5" Age: 37 Weight: 135 lbs. Reach: 68"
Last fight: Decision loss to Petr Yan (Nov. 23, 2024)
Camp: Team Figueiredo (Brazil)
Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/muay Thai
Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ Former 2x UFC flyweight champion
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ Regional grappling accolades
+ 9 KO victories
+ 9 submission wins
+ 11 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Well-timed right hands/uppercuts
^ Coming forward or off the counter
+ Hard calf kicks
+ Slicing elbows from multiple ranges
+ Strong inside the clinch
+ Improved wrestling ability
^ Solid reactive shots
+ Transitions well from topside
^ Dangerous strikes and submissions
Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo point of interest: Flyweight fisticuffs
The main event in Iowa features a flyweight showdown between two top-five talents who aren't afraid to exchange fisticuffs.
Appearing to be a pressure-fighting wildman on the Brazilian regional scene, Deiveson Figueiredo has seemingly sharpened his style and approach since touching down in the UFC octagon. Figueiredo still relies heavily upon his head and trunk movement but will now add a long-framing defense from both stances, as well as flick out more jabs and straight shots to help establish his range.
This approach both accentuates Figueiredo's length, as well as entices risky entries from his opposition that open them up for the Brazilian's powerful counters. Whether Figueiredo is unloading counter crosses or uppercuts, the former flyweight champ has traditionally demonstrated stellar timing and anticipation to go along with his John Lineker-like power and knockdown rate.
Figueiredo has also leaned more on his calf kicks since his series with Brandon Moreno, demonstrating the ability to land stance-altering shots at range. Although attacking his opponent's lower extremities will likely serve Figueiredo well, defensive susceptibility to calf kicks appears to be a potent two-way street in this matchup.
Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo breakdown: Potential grappling threats
Enter Cory Sandhagen.
Coming up through the kickboxing ranks in the quiet martial arts hotbed of Colorado, Sandhagen has clearly studied and absorbed a lot in what has been a fun career to watch thus far.
Utilizing his long and lean frame like second nature, Sandhagen is a rangy kickboxer who appears comfortable poking and prodding his opposition with accurate jabs and leg kicks from either stance. Shifting or drop-stepping at a moment's notice, the 33-year-old talent can piece together flowing, varied offense off of whatever building materials are offered up to him.
Whether Sandhagen is bringing back Jose Aldo's patented "Dutchie" combination or launching jumping switch-knees that give me flashbacks to Liu Kang's bicycle kick, he certainly knows how to keep things spicy. And when Sandhagen is feeling in stride, it's not uncommon to see the good samaritan show a sadistic smile after punctuating his presence with deep hooks or uppercuts to the body.
However, despite the multi-leveled attacks, Sandhagen is not exactly impervious from a defensive standpoint and will have to respect the potential level-changing counters coming his way.
Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo odds
The oddsmakers and the public heavily favor the American, listing Sandhagen -520 and Figueiredo +350 via FanDuel.
Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo prediction, pick
Despite not disagreeing with who is favored, the betting spread above is a bit wide for my liking.
Although Figueiredo is clearly past prime, the former flyweight champion has proven to be an effective fighter since moving up to bantamweight.
Aside from still having the punching power to change the perspective on a round, Figueiredo has also become a much more willing grappler in this division. Should Sandhagen get lackadaisical in transition, then no one should be shocked if Figueiredo can score some big moments or back positions that sway rounds his way.
However, even though taking a flier on Figueiredo at these odds is tempting, I can't ignore the fact that the Brazilian – even in his more recent wins – appears to be walking a fine line as far as establishing a solid output or winning conditions go.
Add in the fact that Sandhagen is incredibly durable and hard to finish on the feet or the floor, and I suspect that "Sandman" can survive the scares and pull away with his superior output and bodywork down the stretch.
The pick is Sandhagen by unanimous decision.
Prediction: Sandhagen by decision
Cory Sandhagen, Deiveson Figueiredo start time, where to watch
As the main event, Sandhagen and Figueiredo are expected to make their walks to the cage at approximately 12:40 a.m. ET. The fight airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.