UFC Fight Night Predictions: Sandhagen Vs. Figueiredo - Who Wins?

Rajiv Sharma

4 min read

Post on May 05, 2025

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Cory Sandhagen's Strengths and Weaknesses

Cory Sandhagen is known for his exciting, unorthodox style. But can it overcome Moreno's grappling prowess? Let's examine his assets and liabilities.

Sandhagen's Striking Prowess

Sandhagen's striking is his biggest weapon. He's a whirlwind of motion, constantly keeping opponents off balance.

• Exceptional speed and precision: His punches and kicks land with surprising accuracy, even at range.
• Masterful use of spinning attacks: Sandhagen's spinning back kicks and elbows are legendary, capable of ending fights instantly.
• Excellent distance management and footwork: He expertly uses movement to create angles and dictate the pace of the fight. This makes him a difficult target to hit consistently.

Sandhagen's Grappling Game

While primarily a striker, Sandhagen's grappling is improving, but it's not his forte.

• Solid takedown defense: He's generally effective at preventing takedowns, but elite wrestlers can still pose a threat.
• Improving submission game: His submission skills are developing, but they haven't been a significant factor in his recent victories. This is an area where he's vulnerable against a submission specialist like Moreno.

Sandhagen's Recent Form and Potential Weaknesses

Sandhagen's recent fights reveal both strengths and weaknesses. His wins often come from showcasing his dynamic striking. However, losses highlight a vulnerability to strong wrestlers.

• High-level striking wins: Sandhagen's victories often showcase his devastating striking ability, overwhelming opponents with speed and power.
• Grappling vulnerabilities: His losses show that if an opponent successfully takes him down and controls him on the ground, he struggles to reverse the position. This is a major area of concern against Moreno.

Brandon Moreno's Strengths and Weaknesses

Brandon Moreno, the former UFC Flyweight champion, is a well-rounded fighter known for his incredible grappling skills.

Moreno's Ground Game Mastery

Moreno's grappling is arguably the best in the flyweight division. His ability to take opponents down and control them on the ground is exceptional.

• Exceptional wrestling and takedown abilities: He consistently secures takedowns, controlling the fight from the dominant position.
• A highly dangerous submission artist: Moreno is a master of various submissions, constantly looking for opportunities to finish the fight.
• Excellent control on the ground and superior positional awareness: He maintains control, preventing his opponent from escaping or reversing position.

Moreno's Striking

While not his primary strength, Moreno's striking has improved significantly. He's effective at close range and in the clinch.

• Effective in close-quarters combat and clinches: He uses his superior wrestling to take opponents down or control them in the clinch.
• Technical boxing style: He employs a more technical boxing style compared to Sandhagen's more unorthodox approach.

Moreno's Recent Form and Potential Weaknesses

Moreno's recent performances are a mix of dominant wins and close losses, highlighting the high level of competition he faces.

• Championship-level grappling: His wins often demonstrate his superior grappling skills.
• Vulnerability to aggressive strikers: In losses, his striking defense against aggressive, powerful strikers has been tested.

Style Matchup and Predicted Outcome

This fight is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup. The outcome likely hinges on whether Sandhagen can keep the fight standing or if Moreno can take him down.

Analyzing the Style Clash

The key to this fight is the grappling vs striking battle. Sandhagen needs to maintain distance and use his superior speed and striking to keep Moreno at bay. Moreno needs to close the distance and secure takedowns to control the fight on the ground.

• Sandhagen's advantage: His speed and power could overwhelm Moreno early if he avoids the takedown.
• Moreno's advantage: His superior grappling likely dictates the fight's flow if he can control the takedown.

The Prediction

Based on our analysis, we predict a victory for Brandon Moreno via decision or submission. Moreno's superior grappling and control are likely to overwhelm Sandhagen over the course of the fight. While Sandhagen's striking is dangerous, Moreno's takedown defense and ground control make it difficult for Sandhagen to maintain a striking advantage for a full three rounds.

Conclusion

The UFC Fight Night matchup between Cory Sandhagen and Brandon Moreno promises an exciting contest. While Sandhagen's dynamic striking is a major threat, Moreno's elite-level grappling and ground game gives him a significant advantage. Based on our analysis, we predict a victory for Brandon Moreno. However, this fight is sure to be a close contest; anything can happen inside the Octagon. Don't miss this thrilling UFC Fight Night event and check back for more UFC Fight Night predictions!