Sandhagen secures title shot with knee-tap TKO of Figueiredo in Des Moines

Cory Sandhagen dismantled former two-time UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event of UFC on ESPN 67, earning a second-round TKO via knee injury and firmly staking his claim as the next bantamweight title challenger.

From the opening bell at Wells Fargo Arena, Sandhagen pressed the action, mixing crisp boxing combinations with calculated leg-attack entries. Figueiredo, stepping up from 125 to 135 pounds in search of a second UFC championship, threatened early with a heel-hook attempt. But Sandhagen, showing the grappling savvy he credits to training under jiu-jitsu ace Ryan Hall, turned the tables in Round 2.

After Sandhagen planted Figueiredo on his back, he transitioned to a 50/50 leg entanglement and, with measured pressure, “sat up and it popped,” forcing the tap at 4:08 of Round 2. Commenting moments later, Sandhagen quipped, “If you don’t know how to play 50/50, your knee gets popped. It happened to T.J. (Dillashaw), it happened to Figgy. I’m better there”.


The victory moves Sandhagen to 19–5 and cements his status among the division’s elite. In his post-fight interview, he immediately called for a matchup against the winner of Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O’Malley at UFC 316, aiming to finally secure the title shot that has eluded him despite a string of high-profile wins.

For Figueiredo (22–7), the loss marks a harsh setback in his bantamweight journey. The knee injury will require further medical evaluation, and his plans for championship contention are now on hold.

With championship aspirations clear, UFC on ESPN 67 provided the perfect platform for Sandhagen to demonstrate that when it comes to leg attacks, he truly is “the Sandman.”