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UFC makes its long-awaited return to Iowa this Saturday, May 3, with a stacked card at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Headlining UFC Fight Night is a pivotal bantamweight showdown between perennial contender Cory Sandhagen and former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Sandhagen, known for his rangy striking and inventive movement, enters as a powerful favorite due to his size, reach, and relentless output. He’ll look to maintain the fight at range and use his volume to outwork Figueiredo over five rounds.
Figueiredo, meanwhile, brings knockout power and elite jiu-jitsu, but faces a major size drawback. His best path is to shut the space, land big shots to earn Sandhagen’s respect, and hunt for takedowns where his submission game can shine. Each men are coming off losses and want a win to remain in title contention, raising the stakes for this most important event.
The co-main event features unbeaten wrestling phenom Bo Nickal taking up former ONE champion Reinier de Ridder in a compelling middleweight clash. Other most important card highlights include Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez in a welterweight firefight, and rising prospects like Montel Jackson and Cameron Smotherman in motion. With Iowa’s passionate fanbase and a card filled with high-stakes matchups, expect an electrical atmosphere and many drama in Des Moines.
Listed here are the UFC Iowa Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Iowa Top Betting Underdogs
- Reinier de Ridder: +275
- Cameron Smotherman: +110
- Quang Le: +114
Reinier de Ridder (+275) vs. Bo Nickal
Reinier de Ridder has all of the tools needed at hand Bo Nickal his first skilled loss this weekend at UFC Iowa. De Ridder’s extensive championship pedigree from ONE Championship, where he held belts in two divisions, gives him a major edge in big-fight experience and composure under pressure. While Nickal is a decorated wrestler with an unblemished 7-0 record, his MMA résumé continues to be developing, and his striking stays a weak point, as seen in his close bout with Paul Craig. De Ridder, meanwhile, has already proven his ability to adapt and thrive against high-level competition, racking up back-to-back UFC submission wins over Gerald Meerschaert and Kevin Holland.
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Stylistically, de Ridder’s world-class grappling and submission arsenal pose an actual threat to Nickal, who has yet to face someone with de Ridder’s mix of size, reach, and mat savvy. If de Ridder can keep the fight standing or force scrambles, he has the striking and jiu-jitsu skills to take advantage of Nickal’s inexperience outside pure wrestling. With superior MMA experience, a proven track record in championship rounds, and the flexibility to complete fights from multiple positions, de Ridder is well-equipped to reveal Nickal’s vulnerabilities and pull off the upset in Des Moines.
Cameron Smotherman (+110) vs. Serhiy Sidey
Cameron Smotherman has the momentum and elegance to tug off the upset against Serhiy Sidey at UFC Iowa. Smotherman enters the bout on a four-fight win streak, including a gritty unanimous decision victory over Jake Hadley in his UFC debut, where he showcased impressive striking volume and adaptableness under pressure. Averaging 6.25 significant strikes landed per minute, Smotherman consistently outworks his opponents and defends 60% of incoming strikes, making him difficult to hit cleanly. His ability to keep up a high pace and control the space could neutralize Sidey’s reach advantage and force the Canadian into uncomfortable exchanges.
While Sidey is thought for his ending ability and well-rounded skill set, he has shown vulnerability in close fights, as evidenced by his split-decision loss to Ramon Taveras and a narrow win over Garrett Armfield. Smotherman’s endurance and strategic approach give him an edge in longer bouts, and his proven capability to adapt on short notice suggests he can handle Sidey’s pressure. If Smotherman can dictate the tempo and keep the fight standing, his superior output and defense must be enough to earn a call victory and proceed his rise within the bantamweight division.
Quang Le (+114) vs. Gaston Bolanos
Quang Le has a transparent path to victory against Gaston Bolanos by exploiting Bolanos’s well-documented grappling weaknesses. While Bolanos is a dangerous striker with knockout power, he’s repeatedly struggled when opponents mix in takedowns-he was taken down 4 times in his last fight and spent significant time controlled on the mat. Le, despite recent setbacks, has shown the flexibility to mix striking with opportunistic wrestling, and if he commits to a takedown-heavy approach, he can neutralize Bolanos’s Muay Thai offense.
Le’s resilience and willingness to dig deep in tough fights give him an edge in a gritty, drawn-out battle. If he can weather the early striking storm and force Bolanos into grappling exchanges, Le’s versatility and determination should allow him to grind out a call or discover a late finish. Expect Le to press the motion, mix levels, and capitalize on Bolanos’s defensive lapses on the bottom.
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