Sandhagen vs Figueiredo, Nickal vs de Ridder, Vera vs Bautista Fight Picks – May 3, 2025

Cory Sandhagen vs Deiveson Figueiredo

  • Cory Sandhagen
  • Age: 32
  • UFC Record: 10-4
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Frankie Edgar, Marlon Moraes, and Iuri Alcantara. Submitted Mario Bautista. Beat Rob Font, Yadong Song, and Raphael Assuncao. Split decision wins over Marlon Vera and John Lineker.
  • Striking: near plus plus (75)
  • Power: near plus plus (75)
  • Wrestling: near plus plus (75)
  • Deiveson Figueiredo  
  • Age: 37
  • UFC Record: 3-1 at 135 lbs. 13-3-1 overall.
  • Key Draws: Fought Brandon Moreno to a majority draw.
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Joseph Benavidez, Marco Beltran, and John Moraga. Submitted Cody Garbrandt, Alex Perez, and Tim Elliott. Beat Marlon Vera, Rob Font, Moreno, and Alex Pantoja.
  • Striking: plus (70)
  • Power: plus (70)
  • Grappling: plus (70)

Chris’ Pick: Sandhagen by decision.


Bo Nickal vs Reinier de Ridder

  • Bo Nickal
  • Age: 29
  • UFC Record: 6-0
  • Key Wins: Submitted Cody Brundage, Jamie Pickett, a well rounded 7-1 fighter, and a 4-0 striker. Knocked out Valentine Woodburn. Beat Paul Craig.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: near plus (65)
  • Grappling: plus (70)
  • Reinier de Ridder
  • Age: 34
  • Pro Record: 19-2
  • UFC Record: 2-0
  • Key Wins: Submitted Kevin Holland, Gerald Meerschaert, a well rounded 12-2 fighter, a 17-1 grappler, and a well rounded 23-4 fighter. Knocked out a 6-1 striker and a well rounded 30-6 fighter. Beat an 11-3 striker.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: near plus (65)
  • Grappling: plus (70)

Chris’ Pick: Nickal by decision.


Jeremy Stephens vs Mason Jones

  • Jeremy Stephens
  • Age: 38
  • UFC Record: 15-18
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Doo Ho Choi and Josh Emmett. Beat Darren Elkins.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: near plus (65)
  • Wrestling: above average (60)
  • Mason Jones
  • Age: 28
  • Pro Record: 15-2
  • UFC Record: 1-2
  • Key Wins: Knocked out a well rounded 8-1 fighter and a 6-2 grappler, and a 12-1 wrestler. Beat David Onama.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: near plus (65)
  • Wrestling: above average (60)
  • Grappling: a little above average (55)

Chris’ Pick: Jones by decision.


Montel Jackson vs Daniel Marcos

  • Montel Jackson
  • Age: 32
  • UFC Record: 9-2
  • Key Wins: Submitted Brian Kelleher. Knocked out Da’Mon Blackshear and Rani Yahya. Beat Julio Arce, JP Buys, and Felipe Corales.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: near plus (65)
  • Wrestling: near plus (65)
  • Daniel Marcos
  • Age: 32
  • UFC Record: 5-0
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Saimon Oliveira and a well rounded 7-1 fighter. Beat John Castaneda, a 6-1 striker and a well rounded 8-2 fighter. Split decision over Adrian Yanez and Davey Grant.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: near plus (65)
  • Wrestling: above average (60)

Chris’ Pick: Jackson by split decision.


Don’Tale Mayes vs Thomas Petersen

  • Don’tale Mayes
  • Age: 33
  • UFC Record: 6-8
  • Key Losses: Knocked out by Allen Crowder. Split decision loss to Hamdy Abdelwahab.
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Andre Arlovski, Josh Parisian, a 10-1 grappler, and a 4-0 striker. Beat Caio Machado. 
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: near plus (65)
  • Wrestling: above average (60)
  • Thomas Petersen
  • Age: 29
  • Pro Record: 9-3
  • UFC Record: 2-2
  • Key Wins: Beat Mohammed Usman.
  • Striking: above average (60)
  • Power: above average (60)
  • Wrestling: above average (60)

Chris’ Pick: Mayes by decision.


Ryan Loder vs Azamat Bekoev

  • Ryan Loder
  • Age: 33
  • Pro Record: 7-1
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Robert Valentin and an 8-3 grappler. Beat a 5-0 wrestler.
  • Striking: a little above average (55)
  • Power: a little above average (55)
  • Wrestling: above average (60)
  • Azamat Bekoev
  • Age: 29
  • Pro Record: 19-3
  • UFC Record: 1-0
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Zachary Reese. Submitted a well rounded 7-2 fighter and a 4-0 grappler. Beat a well rounded 6-1 fighter and a well rounded 9-2 fighter. Split decision over Dylan Budka.
  • Striking: above average (60)
  • Power: above average (60)
  • Wrestling: near plus (65)
  • Grappling: above average (60)

Chris’ Pick: Bekoev by decision.


Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Daniel Rodriguez

  • Santiago Ponzinibbio
  • Age: 38
  • UFC Record: 12-7
  • Key Losses: Split decision losses to Muslim Salikhov, Michel Pereira, and Geoff Neal.
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Carlston Harris, Alex Morono, Gunnar Nelson, and Neil Magny. Beat Miguel Baeza, Mike Perry, Nordine Taleb, and Zak Cummings.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: near plus (65)
  • Wrestling: near plus (65)
  • Daniel Rodriguez
  • Age: 38
  • UFC Record: 8-4
  • Key Wins: Submitted Tim Means and a 7-2 grappler. Knocked out Dwight Grant, a well rounded 4-0 fighter. Beat Kevin Lee, Mike Perry and a 7-2 striker. Split decision over Alex Morno and Jingliang Li.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: near plus (65)
  • Wrestling: above average (60)
  • Grappling: a little above average (55)

Chris’ Pick: Ponzinibbio by split decision.


Miesha Tate vs Yana Santos

  • Miesha Tate
  • Age: 38
  • UFC Record: 7-6
  • Key Wins: Submitted Julia Avila and Holly Holm. Knocked out Marion Reneau. Majority decision over Sara McMann.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: a little above average (55)
  • Wrestling: plus (70)
  • Yana Santos
  • Age: 35
  • UFC Record: 5-4 at 135 lbs.
  • Key Losses: Split decision loss to Karol Rosa.
  • Key Wins: Beat Chelsea Chandler, Ketlen Vieira, Marion Reneau, and Lina Lansberg.
  • Striking: plus (70)
  • Power: above average (60)
  • Wrestling: near plus (65)

Chris’ Pick: Santos by decision.


Marina Rodriguez vs Gillian Robertson

  • Marina Rodriguez
  • Age: 37
  • UFC Record: 8-5-2
  • Key Losses: Split decision losses to Iasmin Lucindo, Jessica Andrade, and Carla Esparza
  • Key Draws: Fought Randa Markos and Cynthia Calvillo to draws.
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Michelle Waterson-Gomez, Amanda Ribas. Beat Mackenzie Dern, Michelle Waterson, and Tecia Torres. Split decision over Xiaonan Yan.
  • Striking: plus (70)
  • Power: plus (70)
  • Wrestling: near plus (65)
  • Gillian Robertson
  • Age: 29
  • UFC Record: 4-1 at 115 lbs. 12-7 overall.
  • Key Wins: Submitted Piera Rodriguez, Mariya Agapova, Priscila Cachoeira, Cortney Casey, Emily Whitmire, and Molly McCann. Knocked out Polyana Viana and Sarah Frota. Beat Luana Pinheiro, Michelle Waterson-Gomez, and Poliana Botelho.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: a little above average (55)
  • Grappling: plus (70)

Chris’ Pick: Robertson by 2nd round submission.


Cameron Smotherman vs Serhiy Sidey

  • Cameron Smotherman
  • Age: 27
  • Pro Record: 12-4
  • UFC Record: 1-1
  • Key Wins: Beat Jake Hadley. Split decision win over a well rounded 2-1 fighter.
  • Striking: above average (60)
  • Power: above average (60)
  • Wrestling: above average (60)
  • Serhiy Sidey
  • Age: 28
  • Pro Record: 11-2
  • UFC Record: 12-1
  • Key Losses: Split decision loss to Ramon Tavares.
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Ramon Taveras and a 4-1 grappler. Beat a well rounded 3-0 fighter. Split decision over Garrett Armfield.
  • Striking: above average (60)
  • Power: above average (60)
  • Wrestling: a little above average (55)

Chris’ Pick: Smotherman by decision.


Junior Tafa vs Tuco Tokkos

  • Junior Tafa
  • Age: 28
  • Pro Record: 6-3
  • UFC Record: 2-2
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Sean Sharaf, Parker Porter, and a 6-1 striker.
  • Striking: above average (60)
  • Power: above average (60)
  • Wrestling: a little above average (55)
  • Tuco Tokkos
  • Age: 34
  • Pro Record: 10-5
  • UFC Record: 0-3
  • Key Wins: Knocked out a 4-1 striker and a 9-3 wrestler. Submitted a well rounded 5-1 fighter.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: near plus (65)
  • Wrestling: above average (60)

Chris’ Pick: Tokkos by 2nd round knockout.


Trevor Peek vs Jeong Yeong Lee

  • Trevor Peek
  • Age: 30
  • UFC Record: 3-3
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Erick Gonzalez, Khama Worthy, a 5-0 striker, and a well rounded 7-0 fighter. Beat Mohammad Yayha.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: near plus (65)
  • Wrestling: above average (60)
  • Jeong Yeong Lee
  • Age: 29
  • UFC Record: 4-1
  • Key Wins: Knocked out a 7-0 grappler and a well rounded 8-3 fighter. Submitted a well rounded 8-3 fighter. Beat Blake Bilder. Split decision over Zha Yi.
  • Striking: near plus (65)
  • Power: near plus (65)
  • Wrestling: above average (60)
  • Grappling: a little above average (55)

Chris’ Pick: Peek by 2nd round knockout.


Ivana Petrovic vs Juliana Miller

  • Ivana Petrovic
  • Age: 30
  • Pro Record: 7-2
  • UFC Record: 1-2
  • Key Losses: Split decision loss to Jamey-Lyn Horth.
  • Key Wins: Submitted Na Liang and a well rounded 7-1 fighter.
  • Striking: above average (60)
  • Power: above average (60)
  • Wrestling: near plus (65)
  • Grappling: above average (60)
  • Juliana Miller
  • Age: 28
  • Pro Record: 3-3
  • UFC Record: 1-2
  • Key Wins: Knocked out Brogan Walker.
  • Striking: a little above average (55)
  • Power: fringe average (45)
  • Grappling: above average (60)

Chris’ Pick: Petrovic by decision.


Gaston Bolanos vs Quang Le

  • Gaston Bolanos
  • Age: 32
  • Pro Record: 8-4
  • UFC Record: 2-1
  • Key Losses: Submitted by a well rounded 6-3 fighter. Beat Cortavious Romious.
  • Striking: above average (60)
  • Power: above average (60)
  • Wrestling: a little above average (55)
  • Quang Le
  • Age: 33
  • Pro Record: 8-2
  • UFC Record: 0-2
  • Key Wins: Knocked out a 6-1 grappler.
  • Striking: above average (60)
  • Power: above average (60)
  • Wrestling: near plus (65)
  • Grappling: above average (60)

Chris’ Pick: Le by decision.

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