UFC monks predictions, dimensions, complete preview of the cards: is Cory Sandhage still a threat of title?

It has been 25 years since the UFC organized an event in Iowa, but for the UFC des Moines, the promotion decided to deliver the goods.

We call it as we see here. From top to bottom, the Saturday Fistival Festival is damn good – especially for today's night standards. I'm completely there for that. If you are a hardcore fan, you should be scrambled and ready to scold from combat n ° 1 to the main event of ratings-contanal weights, which presents the best contenders Cory Sandhage and the former Champion of Mouches Mouches Deiveson Figueedo seeking to bounce defeats and keep their names near the title.

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The main map also underlines the world's exceptional talent basin of 135 pounds with two other convincing clashes, but it is the co-principal event that will tell us a lot to 185 pounds. The former holder of the title of champion of two Division One, Reinier de Ridder, flambé to a quick record of 2-0 in octagon, and now plans to hand over to Uber Proposition Bo Nickal his first defeat.

This is all without mentioning the feedback from the UFC of the former Coq Miesha Tate weight champion and the favorite knock of the Jeremy Stephens fans. In other words, the UFC of the monks is a ripper.

We have not yet done it with MMA here to without a crown, but like the man on the WWE weekly reviewsI make an executive decision: 👑 I give the UFC range of monks a crown grade of: b +. 👑

Let's look more deep into who comes out with their hands raised and why.

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The ratings of Paris graceful of Betmgm.

135 pounds: Cory Sandhant (-550) against Figueiredo DEIVES (+400)

Does anyone else think he is still weird that Figueiredo is a rooster weight despite preparing for his fifth fight in the division? However, the former champion of the dying weights was a major player here, keeping everyone outside the former champion Petr Yan during his last outing. I certainly had more confidence in Figueiredo than I should have entered this fight, but it was difficult, rough Matchup.

Figureedo, 37, relied much more on his grappling as a rooster weight than 125 pounds. After a magnificent withdrawal of travel inside early against Yan, the success of Figueiredo disappeared as it was ahead of volume and upper boxing. Although Figueiredo has never become too comfortable at any time, he increased his assault when the rounds passed, showing lightning of his vintage championship by overthrowing Yan in the fourth. The guy is always dangerous.

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On the other hand, we have one of the most versatile attackers in the division in Sandhant. Although this is still rightly considered to be the field of expertise of Sandhantn, its struggle became madly underestimated, and its defeat in August 2024 against Umarmagomedov only pushed this stigmatization.

It is not too fair, however, taking into account the way “The Sandman” has defensive Nurmagomedov. But a loss is a loss, and Sandhant may not have much more climbs on the mountain in him if he fails the UFC of the monks again.

Sandhantn will use its monstrous length advantage on the much shorter fig, and we will surely see fun scrambles throughout the 25 -minute case, the Brazilian looking for control. In the end, I expect it to be relatively like the Yan struggle for Figueiredo. Unless it starts faster, it could be a long night of slicing and clearance of Sandhant, which can have a day on the ground as he did against Song Yadong three years ago.

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Pick: sandman.

185 pounds: Reinier de Ridder (+260) against Bo Nickal (-325)

Like many commentators and speakers say daily in response to an overly thought out article on social networks, “it's not that deep, brother.”

I would love to go down and dirty, dive into the nitty granting of this match And why “RDR” is the man. The UFC matchmakers have somewhat disrespected her with his reservation so far – but this fight with Nickal will just be a rehearsal of the latter's recent victory against Paul Craig.

Do not get me wrong, from Ridder is a superior fighter for Craig – and probably the best grapple to 185 pounds. On the feet, however, he is simply not so threatening and he knows it.

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What does Nickal do against Craig do? He avoided the auction at all costs and did not draw a single withdrawal despite the truly phenomenal struggle capacities.

Nickal is an intelligent guy, and even if most people believe that he could have manipulated Craig on the ground, he did not disturb – because he did not need it. So, do you want me to think he will try his hand against an even more dangerous submission artist to Ridder? Yeah, I think I will buy this land there.

Pick: Nickal.

170 pounds: Santiago Ponzinibbio (-135) against Daniel Rodriguez (+110)

Did you know that Santiago Ponzinibbio and Daniel Rodriguez are 38 years old? The latter is news for me. “D-Rod” in a way derived quietly in the status of altered veterans. On the other side, Ponzibbio is in this same boat, but always transports absolute radiators for the hands – As Carlston Harris felt it brutally last January.

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Rodriguez is known for his solid boxing skills throughout his Welter weight race, but we could argue that he really has 0-5 in his last five since his Kevin Lee victory in 2021. Something does not click in the same way, and he was continuously overwhelmed by more balanced fighters, forcing Rodriguez to fade. Or maybe it's just this devious age factor that I mentioned from above.

Anyway, “Ponzi” is not the perfect definition of a Got-Or-Got fighter, but the guy does not disappear and is always hunting. His vicious leg kicks are a nightmare for an opponent with a head leg and an offense based on boxing.

Pick: Ponzinibbio.

135 pounds: Montel Jackson (-200) against Daniel Marcos (+165)

Montel Jackson has quietly become one of the best fighters at 135 pounds, stacking a sequence of five UFC victories before his collision with Daniel Marcos.

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The undefeated Marcos (17-0, 1 NC) were stellar, but begins to pass the tests that the level of the UFC offers beyond the regional scene of Peru. Marcos won a great victory for a shared decision against Adrian Yanez tested in December, proving that he can hang out with these talented discreet monsters in Bantamweight.

Jackson, 33, is so physically imposing for the 5 -foot weight category with a range of 75.5 inches. He has a hammer club for the fists and will surely make contact on the reckless Marcos. Jackson is also able to bring up opponents – and his large frame probably makes him even more difficult for his opponents to do.

If Jackson can return to an active rate of competition more than once a year, he will dispute an opposition from the top-5 earlier than late.

Pick: Jackson.

135 pounds: Cameron Smotherman (+110) against Serhiy Sidey (-135)

I am still not particularly high on Cameron Smotherman or Serhiy Sidey right now. This has the feeling of one of these vital fights in the competitor series, opposing two winners to each other in the octagon. Although Smotherman failed in his attempt to win a contract in 2023, he has been hitting all the cylinders since then with four consecutive victories, including his impressive short -term beginning decision against Jake Hadley.

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Smotherman, 27, was more consistent with her recent performances and seems to find a rhythm with his style. Sidey is undoubtedly the most dangerous of the two, packing a solid power to worry, but his shared decision victory on Garrett Armfield in November just gave me too much break to favor him in this match.

Pick: Smotherman.

155 pounds: Jeremy Stephens (+425) against Mason Jones (-600)

Okay, I am much more a guy of “tête-à-tête” these days, but when it comes to return to the unexpected UFC of Jeremy Stephens, I go to heart. “Lil Heathen” has already done magic, so why jump this momentum now?

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Stephens, 38, seems legitimately more confident in itself than everAnd he is ridiculously paid when he has become a feeling of a post-PFL bare handle. The native iowan has always carried power and violent intentions, and while Mason Jones should Win this fight, whether by exceeding or crushing Stephens before a battered finish, I will not be the only one to kill this atmosphere, ok?

Choose: Stephens.

Preliminary notes

Miesha Tate fell from the face of the planet after her dominant return to Bantamweight against Julia Avila at the end of 2023. I still don't know what was going on with this, but I refused to miss a “cupcake” competition since she convinced a lot of the victory of Julie Kedzie in 2012. Go and do a favor now. Thanks to its legendary status and the state of the rooster weight division, a victory over Yana Santos could bring the 38 -year -old tate closer to a title that anyone would have planned in 2025.

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Former straw weight competitors, Marina Rodriguez, is also back in action after a range of consecutive split decision -making losses that could easily have moved. The ratings show Brazilian a little absolute respect against Gillian Robertson, but he is understandable given the optical and the historically suspect defense of Rodriguez. She will probably need a victory to save her job here.

There is something as in each UFC monks' UFC fight. (Except for heavy goods vehicles.)

Quick choice:

• Miesha Tate (-145) def. Yanana Santos (+120)

• Ryan Loder (+310) def. Azamat Bekoev (-400)

• Marina Rodriguez (+260) def. Gillian Robertson (-325)

• Gaston Bolanos (-140) def. Quang the (+115)

• Thomas Peterson (-285) def. Don'tale Mayes (+230)

• Juliana Miller (+185) def. Ivana Petrovic (-225)