UFC Fight Night Preview & Tips | Sunday 4 May

At 33-years-old and 10-4 in the UFC overall, Cory Sandhagen has been a mainstay in the bantamweight top ten for years. A highly experienced professional, Sandhagen has struggled to break into the top 3 but has unquestionably developed immensely over his organizational tenure.

Well-rounded and crafty, Sandhagen has learned well how to maximize his skill set and physical advantages. At 5’11” (180cm), he is tied with Sean O’Malley as the tallest fighter in the division’s top 15.

That length comes in handy when he’s at range poking his foes with long kicks. If his opponents rush in, Sandhagen will meet them with swift counters and follow-up footwork to reset the exchange. The fact that he regularly switches stances throughout the round is a menacing cherry on top.

Sandhagen is a competent and aggressive grappler but he does excellent work on the feet and will likely look to keep it standing this weekend. Historically, Sandhagen is a tough man to hold down but his takedown defense has been called into question.

However, it may be unfair to rate his defensive wrestling too poorly given the extraordinary level of competition he has faced. In fact, I believe he will hold up well to the takedown attempts of Deiveson Figueiredo, with this bout likely needing to be decided on the feet.

A Brazilian standout and former flyweight champion, Figueiredo may still have eyes on the bantamweight title but first needs to prove he still has gas in the tank at 37-years-old. His most recent appearance, a clear decision loss to Petr Yan, did little to showcase new tools.

Figueiredo is 3-1 since moving up to bantamweight but his typically explosive style has made way for a slower-paced, more selective tempo. Conditioning concerns have reared their head on multiple occasions and his output has been largely unimpressive even in victory. Perhaps most concerning is his lackadaisical efficacy with wrestling.

Though he is a strong grappler in multiple ways, he was only able to succeed on around 19% of attempts throughout three bouts in 2024. Offensive wrestling has never been a particular specialty for Figueiredo but that fact may force him into an extended striking bout against a man 6” (15cm) taller than himself.

There is a lot to be appreciated about the concussive offense Figueiredo has been able to generate over the years. But it looks like his best days may be behind him; a move to bantamweight extended his career but a mobile, lanky striker like Sandhagen should work circles around him. Sandhagen is deeply favored for a reason but in a five round contest he has a good chance to justify that confidence.

The best of what Figueiredo has to offer should be exhausted within the first ten minutes, from which Sandhagen can start running away with volume and dictating the rest of the fight. It will be no easy task but with Sandhagen fervently eyeing a title shot, he may take advantage of late-fight opportunities to close the show.

A collegiate wrestling standout and undefeated MMA professional, Bo Nickal has been amassing confidence and racking up wins for a long time now. 4-0 in the UFC, Nickal made a step up in competition to close out the year when he took on Paul Craig six months ago.

A unanimous decision verdict was rightfully handed to him but the performance was largely underwhelming. What resulted was a meek kickboxing bout where not a single takedown was attempted over three rounds.

Nickal, well-aware of Craig’s grappling prowess, wasn’t keen to force the fight to the ground. Though Nickal is a solid grappler in his own right, he has yet to meaningfully pit himself against a true specialist on the mat.

This weekend, Nickal may again look to test his striking skills when he takes on submission threat Reinier de Ridder. A towering 6’4” (193cm) figure, the man common known as “RDR” has fought as high as heavyweight in the past.

Though he cuts a good deal to make the middleweight limit, it is where he has settled as a UFC competitor and gone 2-0 in the last six months. de Ridder has proven his finishing ability many times over in multiple organizations.

Grappling is his specialty and despite his sizable frame, he really prefers to take things to the mat as soon as possible. Defensive liable with questionable durability, de Ridder is something of an old school callback to a specialist who excels in a singular domain but struggles to find consistency anywhere else.

Both men boast impressive grappling accolades in variable forms but ironically they may end up in a kickboxing bout. I do not doubt de Ridder’s willingness to shoot on Bo Nickal, but succeeding on those takedowns is another thing entirely.

Nickal should be able to dictate where this fight takes place and as such, I expect him to prefer keeping it on the feet. He was unwilling to grapple with Paul Craig and finds a bigger, stronger, better grappler in de Ridder this weekend; he won’t be taking many chances on the mat.

In a pure striking contest, this is bound to get messy. Both are southpaws and both, naturally, lack much experience dealing with the same stance. Beyond that, Nickal is quicker and arguably hits harder but he truthfully demonstrated very little as a striker.

Much of Nickal’s game is held up by the threat of his wrestling but de Ridder fights in such a manner that he doesn’t mind being tossed to the floor. In a perfect world, de Ridder’s aggression will bring out the best of Nickal and fans will be treated to a fun fight. In any case, I favor Nickal to stay mobile, outworking de Ridder, staying ahead in each round, and edging out a decision win.

Daniel Rodriguez was only 1-1 in 2024 but ended on a good note by taking a win over Alex Morono. The split decision verdict accurately reflects the nip and tuck nature of the bout but Rodriguez did seem the rightful winner and it was a much-needed one for the 38-year-old.

8-4 in the UFC overall but only 1-3 in his last four, Rodriguez was initially installed as a minuscule betting favorite but the line has since evened out. A gritty striker at the tail end of his career, Rodriguez hasn’t looked particularly sharp in years and is now desperate to find his footing.

At his best, Rodriguez can push a solid pace and put solid boxing to work throughout three rounds. Durability and competent wrestling filled the gaps and ultimately led Rodriguez to a 16-2 record before his recent slide.

Rodriguez hasn’t shown that same consistency in recent years, though. While he remains tough to finish, it’s clear he doesn’t have quite the same punch resistance he once did. Beyond that, his offensive output has waned and sometimes it seems as though he’s struggling to physically keep up with his opposition.

Standing across from him this weekend will be another longtime veteran of the sport in Santiago Ponzinibbio. Also 38-years-old, Ponzinibbio is 2-2 in his last four and also entering this bout off of a win.

Most recently, Ponzinibbio finished Carlston Harris in the third round of a competitive affair. It’s fair to question how much Ponzinibbio has left after turning pro in 2008 but he has shown a surprising degree of dangerous lasting power.

One of the most successful MMA fighters in Argentine history, Ponzinibbio may not be in his prime but can still be lethal on the feet. He is a sharp striker with power in every limb and over the years has developed a well-rounded game.

The best days of both men have passed but that doesn’t change the entertaining and potentially competitive match-up here. Historically, Ponzinibbio has struggled when people can challenge his pace and force him to work hard or fall behind.

With his best foot forward, Rodriguez would certainly have a chance to outwork and outpoint the arguably craftier striker. But in 2025, he may not be capable of putting forth the consistent effort necessary.

Ponzinibbio will have to handle some rough moments but as a whole I suspect he still has what it takes to pull away at range, win minutes, and get the job done after three rounds.

Winner of his last five, Montel Jackson would already be riding high off of results alone but the fact that he knocked out his last opponent in 18 seconds has him surging. Recent years have been kind to Jackson, who has started turning a corner and finding consistency in a new way.

Jackson is a deceptively experienced veteran at this point and he has already walked to the Octagon ten times, going 8-2 in the span. His most recent efforts have been the most impressive though, with Jackson’s speed and power at the forefront of his showcases.

His background may technically lie in wrestling but he is a quick study and has found his greatest success in MMA as a striker. Lengthy for the division at 5’10” (178cm), Jackson also owns legitimate stopping power in both hands. Those combined assets have led to a strong finish rate and some hellacious highlights.

There is value in pointing out that Jackson, ironically, has been taken down and outworked in both of his losses. But it’s also worth noting they came in 2018 and 2020, respectively.

Though Jackson continues to be a fairly thoughtful fighter inside the cage, he has done a much better job of letting his hands go and capitalizing on opportunity. With his foe this weekend lacking substantial wrestling, it’s likely the location of the bout will be dictated by Montel Jackson.

How Daniel Marcos fares in a striking contest with Jackson will be the biggest question of the fight. Marcos is one of the quietest prospects in the UFC, let alone the division. Undefeated at 17-0, the Peruvian has struggled to garner much hype despite solid results.

Wins over John Castaneda and Adrian Yanez showcased the spectrum of Marcos’ skill set and win or lose this weekend, he is a budding contender. Sharp hands and heavy low kicks are at the forefront of Marcos’ striking but there is an intelligence behind his work that few give him enough credit for.

Marcos is a patient fighter, almost to a fault. He owns real power in his right hand but he isn’t desperate to close the show and has become increasingly aware of veteran durability as he climbs the divisional ladder.

Unfortunately, he tends to get hit quite a bit despite having a largely cerebral process to his game. Marcos picks his shots well but doesn’t move his head or feet much, often standing in place, challenging his foe to attack, and finding his measurements from the subsequent exchanges.

As a whole, I anticipate a fairly measured kickboxing bout to break out here. Patience is a virtue of both fighters in this contest but ultimately it’s Jackson who will be taller, quicker, and more powerful.

Without serious wrestling to threaten with, Marcos will be tasked with getting the job done on the feet. His defensive liability will do him no favors against Jackson, and it seems like a matter of time before his unbeaten record comes crashing to the canvas.

The slight betting favorite entering his third UFC appearance, Serhiy Sidey is 2-1 in his last three outings but it’s been a rocky road to get this far. A wild win over Ramon Taveras earned Sidey his organizational contract in late 2023 but that debut was spoiled the following year by the same opponent.

Most recently, the Canadian Sidey got the nod in a split decision over Garrett Armfield but even Sidey admitted post-fight that he thinks he should have lost. All in all a rough start to his organizational stint, Sidey now looks to regain some momentum by doing what he does best.

A hard-charging attacker, Sidey has demonstrated a consistent willingness to trade his defense for a chance to uncork his own shots. Sidey is well-conditioned but fortunately also seems to be durable. Coupled with his own punching power and you have a man tough to exchange with.

By contrast, Cameron Smotherman is a bit more cerebral and is will be interesting to see what he brings to the table here. Smotherman last felt defeat in 2023 but has since rattled off four straight wins, including a late-notice upset win in his last bout.

Taking on Jake Hadley as a heavy underdog, Smotherman not only won the bout but largely dominated it. The effort was a career-best one for Smotherman, who has largely styled on his opposition throughout a 3-0 year.

The jury is still out on Smotherman but he has demonstrated some impressive skills throughout fleeting moments in his career. Consistency has been a bit of a weak point for him but recent appearances have seen him settling down, picking up the volume, and fighting more intelligently.

Those assets will be critical to his success this weekend against an aggressive Serhiy Sidey. The risk of being drawn into a war that benefits Sidey is significant but Smotherman is the swifter fighter with a deeper skill set.

The mobility of Smotherman and his discipline in this fight will be key characteristics but ultimately I consider Smotherman the superior fighter despite his underdog status. Sidey will make it a hard fight for every minute but Smotherman has the diversity and speed to keep Sidey guessing and missing all night.

An initial run in the UFC led to a meager 1-2 record but Mason Jones fell back to familiar stomping grounds and found his momentum again. Since his last organizational try, he went 4-0 in Cage Warriors, an organization he now holds a 12-0 record in.

Once again sharing the honor of one of the few Welshmen in the UFC, Mason Jones is one of the biggest betting favorites on the card. The 30-year-old Jones is well-rounded and exemplifies a young MMA fighter who can do a bit of everything.

Jones has had some ups and downs through a largely successful career but recent years have shown he is still improving. Jones isn’t a devastating puncher but he’s deceptively gritty in tie-ups and clinches, roughing people up with elbows and dirty boxing.

Jones’ wrestling is also a potentially underrated aspect of his game; though he doesn’t consistently look for takedowns, Jones has solid entries and generally passes the eye test of someone with competent wrestling.

Perhaps most importantly, Jones is durable, has a solid gas tank, and is willing to put offense on the board even if it won’t stop the fight. Those characteristics will be vital to carry him through a win over seemingly ageless veteran Jeremy Stephens.

Originally hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, Stephens returns for a homecoming but is not getting any favors when it comes to matchmaking. Stephens exited the UFC in 2021 with a 15-18 record in the organization, landing in PFL and going 1-2 there.

Most recently, Stephens tried his luck in boxing (both gloved and bare-knuckle) with inconsistent success. Stephens’ return to MMA is a bit of a surprise in its own right, but returning to the UFC in a rough match-up like this is an even bigger one.

Stephens is insistent he is motivated, confident, and ready to prove why experience matters. But recent outings in the cage have been mediocre to say the least and flat out dreadful on some occasions. Stephens is still famous for his punching power and particularly devastating uppercut but he hasn’t find much recent success with those strikes in MMA.

No matter what Stephens has been scraping together in bare knuckle endeavors, he has gone 1-7 when competing in MMA dating back to 2018. The results don’t lie, and it’s clear Stephens can only do his best work when confined to a striking bout.

Mason Jones is the younger, fresher fighter with a skill set plenty deep enough to drag Stephens out of his element. There may be some scrappy moments but expect Stephens’ homecoming to get spoiled in a big way by the dominant Welshman.