Sandhagen Vs. Figueiredo: UFC Fight Night Preview, Analysis, And Predictions

Laila Abdi

5 min read

Post on May 05, 2025

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Cory Sandhagen: A Deep Dive into the "Sandman's" Strengths and Weaknesses

Striking Prowess and Offensive Versatility

Sandhagen's devastating striking is his primary weapon. He's known for his unorthodox style and exceptional knockout power. His striking arsenal is incredibly diverse, utilizing powerful kicks, lightning-fast punches, and devastating elbows from various angles. This unpredictable style keeps opponents guessing, making him incredibly difficult to defend against.

• Knockout Power: Sandhagen possesses the ability to end a fight with a single, well-placed strike. His knockout of Frankie Edgar serves as a prime example of his devastating power.
• Technical Precision: Beyond raw power, Sandhagen displays impressive technical precision in his striking. His combinations are fluid and effective, often setting up devastating finishing blows.
• Adaptability: He's shown a remarkable ability to adjust his striking game based on his opponent's strengths and weaknesses.

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Defensive Gaps and Ground Game

While his striking is elite, Sandhagen’s grappling defense has shown vulnerabilities in the past. This is a crucial area to watch in the upcoming fight against Moreno, a world-class grappler.

• Takedown Defense: Sandhagen has been taken down successfully in previous bouts, indicating a potential weakness that Moreno could exploit.
• Submission Defense: While generally resilient, there are instances where his submission defense has been tested, suggesting a vulnerability to skilled submission artists.
• Ground Game: His ground game, while improving, isn't as polished as his striking, potentially leaving him at a disadvantage if the fight goes to the mat.

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Brandon Moreno: The Flyweight King's Path to Victory

Wrestling and Ground Control Mastery

Moreno's wrestling is a significant advantage in this matchup. His grappling and submission skills are world-class, forming the cornerstone of his fighting style.

• Takedown Accuracy: Moreno consistently secures takedowns, controlling the pace and positioning throughout the fight. His ability to take opponents down repeatedly is a key factor in his victories.
• Ground Control: Once on the ground, Moreno excels at maintaining dominant positions, landing significant ground and pound, and hunting for submissions.
• Submission Expertise: His submission game is highly refined, with a diverse arsenal of submissions including rear-naked chokes, guillotines, and armbars.

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Striking and Counter-Striking Abilities

While primarily a grappler, Moreno has significantly improved his striking. His counter-striking is particularly effective.

• Precise Striking: He lands clean, effective strikes, often catching opponents off guard with his timing and accuracy.
• Defensive Striking: Moreno displays excellent defensive striking skills, avoiding significant damage while setting up his takedowns and counter-attacks.
• Tactical Striking: He utilizes his striking intelligently, setting up takedowns or creating openings for his grappling attacks.

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Style Matchup and Potential Fight Scenarios

Sandhagen's Striking vs. Moreno's Wrestling: The Key Battleground

This is the central conflict of the fight. Sandhagen's explosive striking poses a significant threat, but Moreno's wrestling and grappling are designed to neutralize it.

Can Moreno Take Sandhagen Down Consistently?

Moreno's ability to consistently secure takedowns will dictate the flow of the fight. If he can take Sandhagen down repeatedly and control him on the ground, he'll likely win.

Sandhagen's Ability to Avoid Takedowns and Defend Submissions is Crucial

Sandhagen's success hinges on his ability to stuff takedowns and prevent Moreno from securing dominant grappling positions.

Possible Scenarios:

• Sandhagen wins via knockout: If Sandhagen can effectively defend takedowns and land a significant strike early, he could secure a knockout victory.
• Moreno wins via submission: If Moreno can successfully take Sandhagen down and control him on the ground, he could secure a submission victory.
• Moreno wins via decision: A more likely scenario is Moreno winning via decision through consistent takedowns, ground control, and effective striking from top position.

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Prediction and Betting Odds

Based on the analysis above, the betting odds will likely favor Moreno due to his superior wrestling and grappling. While Sandhagen possesses explosive power, his defensive vulnerabilities against a wrestler of Moreno's caliber pose a significant risk. Therefore, our prediction is a victory for Brandon Moreno via decision. However, a Sandhagen knockout remains a possibility, making it a compelling and unpredictable fight.

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Conclusion

The Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo fight promises to be a captivating clash of styles. Sandhagen's explosive striking power presents a serious threat, but Moreno's superior wrestling and submission game could prove decisive. Ultimately, the fight's outcome hinges on Sandhagen's ability to defend takedowns and Moreno's capacity to secure and maintain control on the ground. Based on our analysis, we predict a victory for Brandon Moreno. Don't miss this exciting UFC Fight Night event! Stay tuned for more in-depth Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo analysis and predictions.