Sandhagen Vs. Figueiredo: A Comprehensive Review Of UFC On ESPN 67 Results

Laila Abdi

4 min read

Post on May 04, 2025

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The Main Event: Sandhagen vs. Kara-France – A Bantamweight Thriller

This bantamweight clash pitted the explosive striking of Kai Kara-France against the well-rounded skillset of Cory Sandhagen. Both fighters entered with high hopes of moving closer to a title shot.

Sandhagen's Performance:

Sandhagen showcased his signature dynamic striking and elusive movement. His ability to switch stances and land pinpoint accurate strikes kept Kara-France constantly on the defensive.

• Effective Techniques: Sandhagen utilized a variety of effective techniques, including spinning back kicks, lightning-fast jabs, and devastating knees.
• Moments of Vulnerability: While his movement was largely effective, Sandhagen did leave himself open to counter punches at times, particularly when attempting more ambitious spinning attacks.
• Overall Strategy: Sandhagen's strategy seemed to be to keep Kara-France at a distance, using his movement and precise striking to outpoint his opponent. This strategy proved largely successful.

Kara-France's Performance:

Kara-France, known for his powerful striking, struggled to close the distance against Sandhagen's superior movement. His attempts to land significant strikes were often thwarted by Sandhagen's evasiveness.

• Effective Techniques: While less frequent than Sandhagen’s, Kara-France did land some powerful shots when he could close the gap, highlighting his considerable power.
• Moments of Vulnerability: Kara-France's reliance on powerful, less frequent strikes left him vulnerable to Sandhagen's constant pressure.
• Overall Strategy: Kara-France's strategy seemed to be to find an opening to land one decisive blow, a tactic that ultimately proved unsuccessful against Sandhagen's elusiveness.

The Outcome and its Significance:

Sandhagen secured a unanimous decision victory, showcasing his superior speed, precision, and ring generalship. This win solidifies Sandhagen's position as a top contender in the bantamweight division and significantly enhances his chances of challenging for the UFC bantamweight title in the near future. His performance also suggests a potential matchup against the winner of upcoming title fights.

The Co-Main Event: Moreno vs. Pantoja II – A Flyweight Rematch

The highly anticipated rematch between Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja delivered the fireworks many expected. Their first encounter had ended with a surprising Pantoja victory, and this rematch promised to be equally exciting.

Moreno's Performance:

Moreno, the former flyweight champion, displayed his usual grit and determination, but struggled to find an answer for Pantoja's powerful striking and aggressive grappling.

• Effective Techniques: Moreno landed some effective ground and pound strikes in certain rounds, showing his grappling prowess.
• Moments of Vulnerability: Moreno's attempts to take Pantoja down were largely unsuccessful, exposing his vulnerability to Pantoja's superior takedown defense and striking.
• Overall Strategy: Moreno’s strategy seemed to focus on utilizing his grappling advantage but Pantoja was well prepared.

Pantoja's Performance:

Pantoja, the current UFC Flyweight champion, delivered a masterclass in striking and takedown defense. He consistently countered Moreno's attacks and landed significant strikes throughout the fight.

• Effective Techniques: Pantoja employed a devastating combination of power punches and effective takedown defense to neutralize Moreno's offensive capabilities.
• Moments of Vulnerability: While dominant, Pantoja did absorb some strikes from Moreno, demonstrating that even the best fighters can be susceptible.
• Overall Strategy: Pantoja's strategy focused on controlling the distance and countering Moreno's strikes, which proved to be extremely effective.

The Outcome and its Significance:

Alexandre Pantoja secured another victory over Brandon Moreno, this time via unanimous decision, cementing his place as the UFC flyweight champion and further solidifying his dominance in the division. The win sets up interesting future title defenses and potential rematches down the line.

Other Notable Fights from UFC on ESPN 67:

UFC on ESPN 67 featured several other exciting matchups.

• Tatsiana Tsarukyan vs. Denise Gomes: Tsarukyan won via unanimous decision in a dominant strawweight performance.
• Yazmin Jauregui vs. Denise Gomes: Jauregui defeated Gomes via unanimous decision in a close flyweight battle.
• Tucker Lutz vs. Esteban Ribovics: Lutz won via TKO in the first round of this featherweight bout.

These fights added to the overall excitement of the event and showcased the depth of talent within the UFC roster.

Conclusion:

UFC on ESPN 67 delivered a night of thrilling fights, unexpected results, and solidified the positions of several key fighters. Sandhagen's win moves him closer to a title shot, while Pantoja’s victory cemented his dominance in the flyweight division. The undercard also offered some exciting matchups, highlighting the diverse talent within the UFC.

Call to Action: Want to stay updated on the latest UFC news and analysis, including future events and fighter rankings? Keep checking back for more comprehensive reviews and in-depth analyses of upcoming UFC events, including more coverage of Sandhagen and Figueiredo's – and other top fighters’ – future fights!