Cory Sandhagen showcased his skills in the UFC on ESPN 50 headliner, earning a unanimous decision victory over Rob Font. In the bantamweight division battle at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, Sandhagen demonstrated well-timed takedowns, suffocating control, and mild ground-and-pound tactics. All three judges scored the bout 50-45 in favor of Sandhagen (17-4, 10-3 UFC), who has now won three consecutive fights and potentially positioned himself as the number one contender at 135 pounds.
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Suarez Guillotine Dismisses Andrade
In the women’s strawweight co-main event, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 23 winner Tatiana Suarez defeated Jessica Andrade with a guillotine choke in the second round. Andrade (24-11, 15-10 UFC), a short-notice replacement for Virna Jandiroba, submitted to the choke 1:31 into Round 2. Suarez (10-0, 7-0 UFC) played it safe in the first round, scoring with body kicks, jabs, and knees to the head. She was more decisive in the second stanza, taking down Andrade within the first 50 seconds and catching the guillotine during a scramble. Andrade will now carry a three-fight losing streak into her next assignment.
Jacoby Snipes Favored Nzechukwu
Dustin Jacoby, a Factory X representative, defeated fellow Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Kennedy Nzechukwu with punches in the first round of their light heavyweight feature. Nzechukwu (12-4, 6-4 UFC) fell to Jacoby’s blows 82 seconds into Round 1, ending his three-fight winning streak. Jacoby (19-7-1, 7-4-1 UFC) circled away from Nzechukwu and picked his shots with jabs and leg kicks. In a close-range exchange, Nzechukwu was floored by a picture-perfect counter right cross, followed by rapid-fire hammerfists from Jacoby, prompting referee Gary Copeland to intervene.
Other Notable Fights
In other action, Diego Lopes submitted Gavin Tucker with a triangle armbar in the first round of their featherweight showcase. Tanner Boser defeated Aleksa Camur in a three-round light heavyweight bout, excelling in the clinch and at range to earn a unanimous verdict. Ludovit Klein rebounded from a majority draw with Jai Herbert to take a unanimous decision from Ignacio Bahamondes in a three-round lightweight contest.
Overall, UFC on ESPN 50 provided an exciting night of fights with a variety of finishes and competitive battles, showcasing some of the top talent in the sport of mixed martial arts.