The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to Des Moines, USA, on the night of May 4th for UFC on ESPN 67. The event showcased a lineup of bouts culminating in a bantamweight showdown between top contenders Cory Sandhagen and former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. While the main event`s conclusion was far from ideal, the card as a whole provided several results of note, including a significant upset.
The anticipated main event between Sandhagen and Figueiredo ended in the second round. Cory Sandhagen was declared the winner via TKO, but the stoppage occurred due to a seemingly debilitating knee injury suffered by Deiveson Figueiredo. An injury-stoppage is, perhaps, the least satisfying way for a high-stakes fight between elite competitors to end, leaving questions unanswered and fans wishing for a conclusive battle. Regardless, Sandhagen adds a crucial win to his record, albeit under unfortunate circumstances for his opponent.
Beyond the main event, UFC on ESPN 67 featured several pivotal matchups. Arguably the most talked-about result of the night was in the middleweight division, where highly touted prospect Bo Nickal faced Renier de Ridder. In a surprising turn of events, de Ridder handed Nickal his first professional defeat, securing a knockout victory in the second round. This outcome served as a stark reminder that experience and unexpected power can disrupt even the most carefully planned trajectories in mixed martial arts. One might even quip that octagon reality has a peculiar way of tempering hype.
Other notable results from the main card included Daniel Rodriguez securing a TKO victory over veteran Santiago Ponzinibbio in the welterweight division. In the bantamweight category, both Montel Jackson and Sergey Sidey earned clear unanimous decision wins over Daniel Marcos and Cameron Smooserman, respectively. The main card opener saw Mason Jones defeat long-time fighter Jeremy Stephens via unanimous decision in a lightweight contest.
Preliminary Card Highlights
The preliminary portion of the card also delivered finishes and decisions. In the women`s bantamweight division, Yana Santos earned a unanimous decision over former champion Miesha Tate. Middleweight Azamat Bekoev made quick work of Ryan Loder, winning by TKO in the first round. Jillian Robertson also secured a TKO victory in the women`s minimum weight division against Marina Rodriguez in the second round.
Additional preliminary results saw Quang Le defeat Gaston Bolanos by technical submission (rear-naked choke) in the second round of their bantamweight fight. Heavyweight Thomas Petersen secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over Dontale Mays, highlighted by lopsided scorecards. The preliminary action also featured Julianna Miller defeating Ivana Petrovich by unanimous decision in the women`s flyweight division.
UFC on ESPN 67 in Des Moines, therefore, proved to be an event with a main event ending under unfavorable terms but an undercard providing notable performances, including a significant upset that will undoubtedly reshape discussions in the middleweight division. The sport continues its relentless schedule, bringing both expected victories and sudden, unexpected defeats to various corners of the globe.
Rupert Hartwell