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UFC on ESPN Aftermath: Rankings Shake Up Following Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo

UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo delivered clarity in multiple divisions—and the updated Fight Minds rankings reflect it.

At bantamweight, Cory Sandhagen reclaims the #2 contender spot after a dominant win over former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Sandhagen’s size and skill advantage were on full display as he overwhelmed Figueiredo en route to a second-round TKO due to injury. The result not only pushes Sandhagen above both Figueiredo and Umar Nurmagomedov, but confirms his place in the immediate title conversation.

In the middleweight division, Reinier de Ridder made a statement by finishing hyped prospect Bo Nickal with a vicious clinch knee. De Ridder jumps three spots to #11, while Nickal—despite the loss—enters the rankings at #15, displacing Brunno Ferreira. The division continues to tighten behind the top contenders, and RDR has announced himself as a real problem.

Welterweight veteran Daniel Rodriguez returns to the rankings at #10 following his knockout of Santiago Ponzinibbio, replacing Geoff Neal in the top 15 and solidifying the top 10 with a rare stoppage win.

At bantamweight, Montel Jackson enters the rankings at #11 after handing Daniel Marcos his first professional loss. This pushes Dominick Cruz, Henry Cejudo, and others down one spot in a crowded bottom half of the top 15.

The women’s divisions also saw movement. In strawweight, Gillian Robertson surges up four spots to #8 after retiring Marina Rodriguez with punishing ground and pound. Rodriguez falls out of the top 15, creating space for contenders like Denise Gomes and Amanda Ribas to remain in the mix.

Finally, Yana Santos reenters the women’s bantamweight rankings at #5 with a convincing decision win over Miesha Tate, who drops a spot to #6 in the updated standings.

From decisive veteran performances to prospects proving their worth—or falling short—UFC on ESPN in Des Moines leaves a clear mark on the Fight Minds rankings.

Explore the Full Rankings

While these were the most notable changes from UFC on ESPN, the event contributed to adjustments across many divisions. For a detailed look at all updates, visit:
Fight Minds UFC Rankings

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