When two warriors walk into the Octagon knowing their futures hang in the balance, there’s no room for hesitation. That was the reality at UFC Des Moines, as former flyweight king Deiveson Figueiredo clashed with the unrelenting Cory Sandhagen.

But what was meant to be a war ended with a cruel twist. Not a knockout. Not a choke. Instead, Figueiredo fell to something no fighter can prepare for—an untimely injury. So, what exactly went wrong for ‘Deus da Guerra’?

From the opening bell, ‘The Sandman’ showed his intent. He snapped leg kicks like whips. Figueiredo landed a takedown early and even threatened with a choke. For a moment, it looked like he might drag the fight into deep waters. But Sandhagen swam out fast.

He escaped and began raining punches as Figueiredo clung to his legs. With seconds left, Sandhagen stood tall, dropping shots while glancing at the clock. Figueiredo absorbed more damage, stuck holding ankles like a desperate grip on a sinking ship.

Then came Round 2. The leg kicks returned with vengeance. Figueiredo couldn’t set his feet. He ate jabs, counters, and another slick takedown. Sandhagen, cool as ice, transitioned into half-guard and began raining elbows. Figueiredo tried another leg lock—but this time, it backfired. Sandhagen reversed, took top control, and let the hammerfists fly.

That’s when it happened. Figueiredo’s knee gave out. On replay, you could see it twist unnaturally under the pressure as ‘The Sandman’ moved towards him to land more ground strikes from his guard.

Was it the accumulation of Sandhagen’s kicks? Or did the Brazilian injure himself going for that risky leg lock? Initially, the finish seemed like a TKO. But it turns out the official result was a submission due to injury.

The knee—likely torqued during the leg lock exchanges—was the true culprit. Sandhagen, known for his striking, beat “Deus da Guerra” not with fists or knees, but with a grappling transition. A twist of fate, quite literally. So, what now? Well, in his post-fight interview, ‘The Sandman’ made his next mission crystal clear!

Cory Sandhagen sees a chink in Merab Dvalishvili’s armor as his way to the bantamweight title

With sweat still dripping from his brow, Cory Sandhagen looked into the camera and let it all out at UFC Des Moines. He exclaimed, “I am ready to win that belt, Sean O’Malley, Merab, I want the winner. I’ll be the backup if they want.”

Hungry? That’s an understatement.  Sandhagen isn’t just chasing the crown, he’s sprinting after it like a man possessed as he pleaded with the UFC to let his dream of becoming a world champion come true.

But who stands between him and that dream? A bitter rivalry that’s already written its first chapter, Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili, Round 2. The two are set to clash at UFC 316. And ‘The Sandman’, has already got a game plan that ‘Suga’ can use to reclaim his throne.

Speaking to Demetrious Johnson on a recent appearance on the ‘Mighty Cast’, Sandhagen explained, “Move your feet, keep a bunch of distance, and do it that way. That’s a way to do it, but when a guy has a massive gas tank that’s just like a superhero, I think that you just set your space and when Merab gets close to you, you hit that fool.”

The same advice he might also use if the UFC and Dana White grant his wish and set him up next in line for the bantamweight crown after UFC 316!

And just like that, the bantamweight division finds itself on the edge of something electric. Deiveson Figueiredo’s fall wasn’t just the end of a fight, it was the spark that lit the fire under Cory Sandhagen’s title campaign. The former flyweight champ may have limped away with a twisted knee, but Sandhagen walked away with momentum and a message.

Figueiredo may return, healed and hungry, but for now, ‘Deus da Guerra’ is forced to watch from the sidelines. Meanwhile, ‘The Sandman’ might be one swing away from making his long-awaited dream real. So, when the dust settles at UFC 316, will it be ‘Suga’ or ‘The Machine’? And more importantly, will Sandhagen be the storm that follows? Let us know in the comments below!