Cory Sandhagen delivered a compelling performance this past Saturday, seemingly doing everything necessary to secure a shot at the bantamweight championship. Headlining the UFC Des Moines event, Sandhagen was in dominant form against former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. He appeared to be cruising towards either a clear decision victory or a finish before the fight was regrettably stopped in the second round due to an injury suffered by Figueiredo. Despite this anticlimactic conclusion, Sandhagen`s display strongly makes the case for him being next in line for a title opportunity. However, the lingering question is whether the UFC brass views him as the undisputed top contender.
This analysis explores potential future bouts, starting with what could be next for Sandhagen, especially considering the bantamweight title picture which sees champion Merab Dvalishvili scheduled to face Sean O`Malley in a rematch at UFC 316 on June 7. Additionally, we look at potential next steps for other notable fighters following recent events. This includes discussing matchups for Reinier de Ridder after his impressive victory over Bo Nickal, considering Nickal`s path forward following his first professional mixed martial arts defeat, identifying potential opponents for veteran welterweight Daniel Rodriguez, and exploring options for bantamweight winners from the main card, Montel Jackson and Serhiy Sidey, as well as the returning Mason Jones.
