The UFC is making its way to Des Moines, Iowa, for Fight Night this weekend, marking an exciting return to the Hawkeye State since UFC 26 back in June 2000.
This event features a lineup of 12 fights, which promises some thrilling moments as the UFC attempts to break away from its typical formats. Without the usual crowd to cheer and jeer, the energy might feel a bit different—crowdless arenas just don’t have that same vibe, do they? But it’s still a spectacle worth tuning into.
The fights kick off at 7 PM on ESPN+ and will transition to ESPN2 at 10 PM. This card is filled with a mix of well-known fighters, former champions, and rising prospects all looking to make their mark.
Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
Figueiredo, a former champ, is moving up from flyweight to bantamweight, which could pose some challenges, particularly in terms of size—he’s going into this at a 6-inch height disadvantage against Sandhagen. Interestingly, the betting odds reflect Figueiredo as a +350 underdog.
Sandhagen, on the hunt for a title shot, is likely to pursue a decisive finish to bolster his case in the 135-pound division. The smart money suggests Sandhagen by decision (-150) could be the most plausible outcome—and honestly, that does make sense.
Figueiredo does possess power, but let’s be real—hitting Sandhagen cleanly is a tall order. He’s tricky to connect with, and unless Figueiredo finds that lucky shot, it could be a long night for him. Figueiredo lacks the edge in grappling and striking that he’ll probably need here. So, yeah, Sandhagen looks poised for what should be a clear victory, and the odds of him winning by decision at -550 seem solid.
Pick: Sandhagen by decision (-150, Caesars).
Bo Nickal vs. Reinier de Ridder
Nickal, a decorated wrestler from Pennsylvania, is making a name for himself in the UFC. He’s a favorite in this bout, but maybe not as overwhelming as previously seen—his odds are at -330 this time, which is a shift from being at least -1,100 in his prior fights.
Known for his grappling skills, Nickal recently won a match against Paul Craig, albeit not without some rough, unpolished striking. However, he remains unbeaten, and despite being new to the MMA scene, he’s generating some buzz.
As for De Ridder, he doesn’t strike particularly hard, which might be a disadvantage against Nickal. Their wrestling abilities might even neutralize each other at first, but I can see Nickal edging out a win, likely in the later stages of the second or early third round.
Pick: Nickal to win, within 1.5 rounds or more (-105, Draft Kings).
Remaining Fights
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez: Ponzinibbio Moneyline (+100, Betrivers).
Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos: Jackson wins in range (+275, BET365).
Jeremy Stevens vs. Mason Jones: Stephens (+950, Betrivers) by KO/TKO.
Cameron Smotherman vs. Serei Sidey: Passed.
Jana Santos vs. Miesha Tate: Tate by Submission (+650, Betrivers).
Ryan Lauder vs. Azamato Bekoyev: Battles go the distance (+110, DraftKings).
Marina Rodriguez vs. Gillian Robertson: Rodriguez (+1100, Fanatics) by KO/TKO.
Gaston Bolanos vs. Quang Le: Bolanos Moneyline (-135, DraftKings).
Thomas Petersen vs. Don Trays: Peterson (+400, BetMgm) by KO/TKO.
Juliana Miller vs. Ivana Petrovich: Passed.
