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Another Saturday of UFC action is nearly upon us and another exciting card is all ready to go. This weekend’s event will take place inside the oh-so-familiar UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Understandably, fans are looking ahead to the next event with fans and another exciting looking PPV that includes a blockbuster interim heavyweight title fight between Ciryl Gane and Derrick Lewis, but the Apex isn’t finished providing us with great matchups just yet and this week’s bantamweight headliner could be an absolute classic.
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UFC Vegas 32: Cory Sandhagen vs. T.J. Dillashaw
We've been made to wait a little longer for this one but what a matchup it is. It should be worth the wait. Cory Sandhagen will welcome T.J. Dillashaw back to the UFC in this weekend's headliner. Providing he fights to the same level he did in his career before his two-year suspension after testing positive for EPO, adding Dillashaw back into the bantamweight mix makes for an even more stacked division.
For Sandhagen, this matchup represents an opportunity to continue his hot run of form against one of the UFC's most recognized bantamweight names. After making his UFC debut in 2018, 'The Sandman' won his first five fights, including victories against John Linekar and Raphael Assuncao. A defeat to Aljamain Sterling dented his title aspirations, but not many have rebounded from defeat in as impressive fashion as Sandhagen has.
Against two top contenders, the 29-year-old registered two highlight reel knockouts. A spinning wheel kick against Marlon Moraes came first in 2020, before a 'Knockout of the Year' contender against Frankie Edgar left 'The Answer' unconscious after less than 30 seconds earlier this year.
If Dillashaw is back to his natural best, we're in for a blockbuster fight between the former champion and Cory Sandhagen. With a stacked card that features exciting fights throughout, this weekend's event should carry forward the UFC's momentum from UFC 264 and UFC Vegas 31.
The card has the potential to be a highly entertaining watch. With that said, here are five names to look out for at UFC Vegas 32.
#5 Punahele Soriano - UFC middleweight
Punahele Soriano is one of the most exciting prospects in the promotion.
“Story Time” is unbeaten in eight fights. After punching his ticket to the UFC on Dana White’s Contender Series, Soriano grabbed the opportunity by the horns. First-round knockouts in both his octagon appearances so far have shown the Hawaiian’s potential.
With five of his eight wins coming by either a KO or a TKO, Soriano’s skills on the feet are unquestionable. In January, Soriano faced the highly touted Dusko Todorovic. In his first main-card assignment, he handed the Serb his first loss. For Soriano, the win showed he’s not just a prospect. He’s a future star.
With time to smooth out the rough edges of his MMA game, some more experience in the cage could see Soriano become a top middleweight. 'Story Time' was due to face Anthony Hernandez last month. After the cancelation of that bout, fans and Soriano himself will be eagerly awaiting his first walk to the octagon in 2021. Continue reading this listicle to find out more about his opponent this weekend...
#4. Miranda Maverick - UFC women's flyweight
As well as possessing one of the best alliterate names the UFC has ever seen, Miranda 'Fear The' Maverick has elite MMA skills. At UFC Vegas 32, she'll hope to climb even further up the women's flyweight ladder.
Having dominated fights in the highly regarded Invicta FC promotion, Maverick got the UFC call-up for the second stint on Fight Island last October. Against Liana Jojua on debut, Maverick showed she has more than just submission skills in her locker. Jojua's beaten and bloody face showed Maverick has power. The leading elbow that caused the damage showed Maverick has the striking ability to become a real problem in the flyweight division.
At UFC 260, Maverick dominated UFC veteran Gillian Robertson for three rounds on her way to collecting a unanimous decision victory. With an 11-2 MMA record and an unbeaten start in the UFC, Maverick is one to watch this weekend as she gets her toughest test yet.
At just 24 years old, Maverick's potential is off the charts. This weekend offers the chance to secure a third consecutive UFC win. Her main card opponent is Colorado's Maycee Barber. At the age of just 23, Barber also possesses a promising future in the sport. However, she'll be coming into this bout riding a two-fight losing streak.
After going 3-0 in the UFC, 'The Future' boasted wins over Robertson, JJ Aldrich and Hannah Cifers, and an unbeaten 8-0 MMA record. Back-to-back defeats to Roxanne Modafferi and Alexa Grasso have stalled her rise. With two young guns set to go toe-to-toe, both women are worth looking out for on Saturday night, especially Maverick
#3. Brendan Allen - UFC middleweight
Enter Punahele Soriano's opponent this weekend. When two fighters from the same bout manage to make this list of five, you know their matchup is set to be a banger.
Since debuting in 2019, Brendan Allen has made his name known. A Dana White’s Contender Series contract winner, 'All In' is not far from securing a number next to his name. A win over Soriano at UFC Vegas 32 will take him a sizable step closer to the rankings.
The 25-year-old suffered his first loss in the UFC last November against Sean Strickland. The loss halted his UFC winning streak at three. But a hat-trick of wins prior had already established his name in the 185-pound division. After a first-round rear-naked choke paved the way for Allen in the promotion, he defeated one half of UFC Vegas 22 and 23's main event, Kevin Holland, in his debut; not a bad way to make an impression. Dominant performances against Tom Breese and Kyle Daukaus made it three wins in just nine months. It doesn’t need to be said how promising wins over those names are for a prospect.
Allen returned to the win column in style at UFC 261 in April. In front of the first sold-out crowd in over a year, the Carolina native secured a memorable first-round submission over Karl Roberson.
Allen has found a finish in 14 of his 16 wins and he'll be looking to add to that tally at UFC Vegas 32. With his finishing record and entertaining style, Allen is certainly one of the top names to look out for this weekend, especially given his opponent.
#2. Kyler Phillips - UFC bantamweight
Kyler Phillips has burst onto MMA's biggest stage and into the UFC's bantamweight rankings at some pace. Having only debuted in 2020, Phillips has already notched up three wins in the promotion and secured his place as the #14-ranked 135-pounder.
After going 1-1 since his victory on season four of Dana White's Contender Series, 'Matrix' made his UFC debut against Gabriel Silva last February. A unanimous decision victory got him off to a winning start in the UFC, but it was a second-round TKO in his second octagon walk on Fight Island that began to make his name known in the division. A brutal onslaught of punches and elbows against England's Cameron Else forced the stoppage.
But it was at UFC 259 that Phillips really made a statement to the division. At the pay-per-view, the 26-year-old broke the nine-fight unbeaten streak of rising star Song Yadong. He'll look to make another statement this weekend as he welcomes Raulian Paiva back to bantamweight. The Brazilian boasts an impressive 20-3 record and will ride a two-fight winning streak into this Saturday's event.
Phillips' relentless pressure and potential makes him one of the top names on the UFC Vegas 32 card. Given that another win will likely see him secure a top opponent next time out, he'll undoubtedly look to push hard and bring the fight to Paiva. That makes him one to look out for this weekend.
#1. Adrian Yanez - UFC bantamweight
Adrian Yanez is one of the most exciting new names in the UFC. Having made his case for a fight with Randy Costa over social media, Yanez got his wish. The two bantamweight prospects will enter the octagon together at UFC Vegas 32 and, through the power of fans and perseverance, will now open the main card having been originally set for the prelims.
Since moving to 7-3 in MMA, Houston's Yanez has built a six-fight winning streak. The 27-year-old earned a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series after knocking out Brady Huang just 39 seconds into their bout. Two KO's in two UFC fights since have firmly established his name as one to watch in the 135-pound division.
His knockout of Gustavo Lopez is always worth another watch...
Against someone with the hype of Adrian Yanez, Randy Costa's potential may fly under the radar slightly heading into this one. But Costa shouldn't be overlooked.
Both men will head into this fight in good form and with active winning streaks. With both possessing knockout power and exciting striking, this bout won't be one you'll want to miss.
