UFC Fight Night: In-Depth Preview Of Sandhagen Vs. Figueiredo

5 min read Post on May 04, 2025

UFC Fight Night: In-Depth Preview Of Sandhagen Vs. Figueiredo

Cory Sandhagen – The "Sandman's" Strengths and Weaknesses

Cory Sandhagen, known as "The Sandman," enters the octagon with a reputation built on his devastating striking ability. His fights are often spectacles of dynamic offense and highlight-reel moments.

Striking Prowess

Sandhagen's striking is his most potent weapon. He possesses:

Exceptional speed and precision: His lightning-fast strikes often land before opponents can react.
Devastating leg kicks: Sandhagen utilizes leg kicks to slow opponents down, damage their mobility, and set up further attacks.
Diverse striking arsenal: He’s not just a one-trick pony. Sandhagen utilizes a wide array of punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, making him unpredictable and difficult to counter.
Knockout power: While known for his technical striking, Sandhagen packs a serious punch and has secured several knockouts throughout his career.

His spinning back kicks and unorthodox techniques are particularly noteworthy, often catching opponents off guard. His performance against Song Yadong perfectly showcased this diverse and explosive striking style.

Weaknesses

While his striking is elite, Sandhagen's grappling defense has presented vulnerabilities:

Susceptible to takedowns: He's shown moments of weakness when taken down, particularly against wrestlers with strong takedown entries.
Needs to improve his ground game: While he's improved, his ground game remains a point of potential weakness compared to his striking.
Potential for submission losses: While durable, his susceptibility to takedowns exposes him to the threat of submissions from skilled grapplers.

His fights against Marlon Moraes and Aljamain Sterling highlight instances where his grappling defense was successfully exploited. However, recent performances suggest he’s actively working to improve this aspect of his game.

Brandon Moreno – The "Assassin Baby's" Strengths and Weaknesses

Brandon Moreno, the "Assassin Baby," is a former UFC Flyweight champion renowned for his exceptional grappling skills and relentless fighting style.

Ground Game Domination

Moreno's grappling is arguably his greatest asset:

Exceptional takedown defense: He’s incredibly difficult to take down, possessing an innate sense for anticipating and defending takedown attempts.
Relentless ground-and-pound: Once he secures top position, Moreno unleashes a relentless barrage of ground-and-pound strikes, wearing down his opponents.
Dangerous submissions: He possesses a diverse submission game, with a knack for finding openings and securing submissions from various positions.
Cardio advantage: Moreno consistently demonstrates exceptional cardio, maintaining a high pace throughout his fights, even during grappling exchanges.

His victories over Deiveson Figueiredo highlight his dominance on the ground and his ability to control the pace of the fight.

Striking Improvements

While primarily a grappler, Moreno’s striking has evolved considerably:

More effective counter-striking: He utilizes effective counters to disrupt his opponent's attacks.
Improved power: His strikes are more powerful and effective than in his earlier career.
More calculated striking approach: He displays better ring generalship and is less reckless with his striking exchanges.

His recent fights have demonstrated a calculated and strategic use of striking, complementing his already formidable ground game.

Fight Strategy and Prediction

This fight presents a fascinating tactical matchup.

Sandhagen's Game Plan

Sandhagen will likely aim to:

Keep the fight standing: He needs to use his superior speed and striking to avoid being taken down.
Utilize his superior striking: He needs to land his devastating strikes early and often to hurt and potentially finish Moreno. Maintaining distance and using his movement to evade takedowns will be crucial.

Moreno's Game Plan

Moreno will likely focus on:

Controlling the pace: He needs to dictate the rhythm of the fight and avoid being drawn into a striking exchange.
Securing takedowns: His best chance of winning is securing takedowns and dominating Sandhagen on the ground.
Dominating on the ground: Once on the ground, Moreno needs to maintain control, using his ground-and-pound and submission attempts to wear down Sandhagen.

Prediction

This fight is a close call. Sandhagen's striking power is a significant threat, but Moreno's grappling and takedown defense are elite. If Moreno can secure early takedowns and control the fight on the ground, he has a high chance of winning. However, if Sandhagen can keep the fight standing and land significant strikes, he could secure a knockout victory. I predict a close decision victory for Brandon Moreno, based on his superior grappling and takedown defense, coupled with his improved striking.

Key Undercard Fights to Watch

[Fighter A] vs. [Fighter B]: This matchup features a clash of styles, promising exciting action.
[Fighter C] vs. [Fighter D]: A potential contender fight with high stakes implications for future title shots.
[Fighter E] vs. [Fighter F]: A promising young talent against a seasoned veteran.

Conclusion

The UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo main event promises a clash of contrasting fighting styles, with Sandhagen’s explosive striking against Moreno’s superior grappling. The undercard also offers exciting matchups, making this a must-watch event for MMA fans. The prediction leans towards Moreno due to his superior grappling game and ability to control the pace of the fight.

Don't miss this electrifying UFC Fight Night event! Get ready for Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo and tune in to witness the action unfold. Stay tuned for further UFC Fight Night previews and analyses, and remember to check the latest betting odds for this exciting matchup!