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DraftKings MMA, UFC DFS lineup picks for UFC Des Moines: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo on 05/03/25. MMA DFS analysis to build winning daily fantasy UFC lineups.
The UFC will return to Iowa for the first time in nearly 25 years with UFC Des Moines this Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena. The event will be headlined by a bantamweight matchup between Cory Sandhagen and Deiveson Figueiredo, with a middleweight bout between Bo Nickal and Reinier de Ridder set to feature the co-main event. The event will mark the promotion's debut in Des Moines and first visit to Iowa since UFC 26 in June 2000.
The main card opener is set to feature the return of Jeremy Stephens and the return of Mason Jones. Stephens hasn't fought in the UFC since 2021, and Jones hasn't fought in the UFC for nearly three years. After that, we have two bantamweight fights: Cameron Smotherman takes on Serhiy Sidey, and Montel Jackson takes on Daniel Marcos. Also on the main card, Santiago Ponzinibbio is set to face off against Daniel Rodriguez.
In this article, I will be providing you with my fantasy MMA lineup picks for UFC Des Moines: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo on 5/3/25. Give me a follow on X @sumpor5. Good luck!
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DraftKings MMA Bantamweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Cory Sandhagen, $9.4K - vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
On Saturday, in the main event of UFC Des Moines, former interim title challenger Sandhagen and former flyweight champion Figueiredo are scheduled for a bantamweight scrap. Both Sandhagen and Figueiredo will look to get back in the win column, with the winner possibly being the next in line for a title shot.
That’s a wrap on #UFCDesMoines media day 💥
[ Live on @ESPNPlus | SATURDAY | 9pmET ] pic.twitter.com/1iPR3NdGWI
— UFC (@ufc) May 1, 2025
Since signing with the UFC in 2018, Sandhagen has accumulated a 10-4 record across his 14 appearances inside the Octagon. Sandhagen went unbeaten in his first five fights with the promotion before losing to former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling via first-round submission. Back in 2021, Sandhagen fought for an interim title against Petr Yan. It was an extremely close fight, but in the end, Yan walked out victorious. After his loss to Yan, Sandhagen went 3-1, only losing his last bout unanimously to Umar Nurmagomedov.
Former two-time flyweight champion Figueiredo was last seen in action at UFC Macau, where he lost to former bantamweight champion Yan via unanimous decision. That was his first loss since moving up to the bantamweight division. Before that, he won three straight fights, his first three fights at bantamweight. In those three fights, Figueiredo had beaten Rob Font, former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt, and former title challenger Marlon Vera.
Sandhagen enters this fight with an MMA record of 17-5 and 10-4 in the UFC. He is averaging 5.02 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 44%. Sandhagen is absorbing 3.46 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 56%. His grappling is decent, averaging 1.19 takedowns every 15 minutes. Sandhagen has a takedown defense of 32% and a takedown defense of 63%.
Figueiredo enters this fight with an MMA record of 24-4-1 and 13-4-1 in the UFC. He is averaging 2.91 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 54%. Figueiredo absorbs 3.55 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 49%. Regarding his grappling, Figueiredo is averaging 1.62 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.4 submission attempts during the same period. His takedown accuracy is 34%, and he has a takedown defense of 60%.
Sandhagen's striking and size advantage will be too much for Figueiredo. Not only that, but his activity on the feet and his volume will most likely cause Figueiredo a lot of problems, just like it did when Figueiredo fought Yan. Figueiredo is extremely durable, so I don't see Sandhagen finishing him, but I do think Sandhagen will outstrike a possibly dominant Figueiredo en route to a unanimous decision victory.
DraftKings MMA Welterweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Daniel Rodriguez, $8.0K - vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
UFC welterweights Rodriguez and Ponzinibbio are scheduled to clash on the main card of UFC Des Moines. Both Rodriguez and Ponzinibbio will look to win their second fight in a row.
Rodriguez joined the promotion in 2020. The 38-year-old Rodriguez started his UFC career by winning seven out of eight fights, but he struggled when facing top-10 competition. He was last seen in action back in October 2024 at UFC Vegas 98, where he defeated Alex Morono via split decision. Prior to that bout, Rodriguez was on a three-fight skid, having lost to Neil Magny, Ian Machado Garry, and Kelvin Gastelum. Known as a striker and a brawler, Rodriguez will most likely try to keep this fight on the feet.
Ponzinibbio earned his UFC eligibility back in 2013, going 2-2 in his first four UFC fights. After that, Ponzinibbio went on a tear, winning seven straight fights before injuries and illness sidelined him for two years. After being sidelined for more than two years, Ponzinibbio got back to competition, but he just hasn't looked the same as before, and it was evident in his record as he's gone 3-5 since coming back from injury and illness. Ponzinibbio got back in the win column in his last bout by defeating Carlston Harris via third-round TKO.
Rodriguez enters this fight with an MMA record of 18-5 and 8-4 in the UFC. He averages 7.50 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 49%. Rodriguez absorbs 5.47 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 58%. In regards to his grappling, Rodriguez is averaging 0.59 takedowns every 15 minutes. His takedown accuracy is 54%, and his takedown defense is 57%.
Ponzinibbio enters this fight with an MMA record of 30-8 and 12-7 in the UFC. He is averaging 4.80 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 41%. Ponzinibbio absorbs 4.61 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 61%. His grappling is less than decent, averaging 0.56 takedowns every 15 minutes. He has a takedown accuracy of 32% and a takedown defense of 71%.
Rodriguez usually has the higher volume while Ponzinibbio packs more of a punch. Both fighters like to keep the fight standing and are out of their prime. If this were made back when both fighters were in their primes, I would've given the edge to Ponzinibbio as he looked like a world beater. Now, however, I give a slight advantage to Rodriguez. I think he's more durable than Ponzinibbio at this point in their careers. That said, I think Rodriguez will win this one via unanimous decision.
DraftKings MMA Women's Bantamweight - UFC DFS Lineup Picks
Miesha Tate, $8.3K - vs. Yana Santos
Former women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate is scheduled to take on Yana Santos on Saturday's prelims of UFC Des Moines. Both Tate and Santos will look to win back-to-back fights.
Tate retired in 2016 but has decided to end her retirement in 2021 to face Marion Reneau at UFC Vegas 31. Tate defeated Reneau via third-round TKO but was then badly beaten up by Ketlen Vieira and Lauren Murphy in her next two fights. After that, Tate took a year off and came back to beat Julia Avila by submission. Since her fight with Avila, Tate has stayed out of action for the last 18 months ahead of her fight against Santos.
Santos hasn’t found much success in the last few years, but she did manage to bounce back in her last fight. After losing three fights in a row to Irene Aldana, former women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm, and Karol Rosa, Santos got back in the win column in her last fight by defeating Chelsea Chandler via unanimous decision. That being said, she looked great in her last fight, as she picked apart Chandler en route to a unanimous decision victory. Since signing with the UFC, Santos has gone 5-5.
Tate enters this fight with an MMA record of 20-9 and 7-6 in the UFC. She averages 2.62 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 45%. Tate absorbs 2.98 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 51%. Regarding her grappling, Tate is averaging 2.02 takedowns every 15 minutes. Her takedown accuracy is 31%, and her takedown defense is 55%.
Santos enters this fight with an MMA record of 15-8. She is averaging 0.97 significant strikes per minute and has a striking accuracy of 58%. Santos absorbs 3.12 strikes per minute and has a striking defense of 50%. When it comes to her wrestling, Santos is averaging 0.97 takedowns every 15 minutes. She has a takedown accuracy of 53% and a takedown defense of 42%.
Even though she was victorious in her last bout, Tate hasn't looked the best in her last time she stepped in the cage. In contrast, Santos has looked great in her previous bout, even though she's gone 1-3 in her last four. That being said, Santos has always had problems with wrestlers, and Tate is a great wrestler. It's difficult to pick who will win this fight, but I'll go with Tate because of her wrestling ability and Santos' history with wrestlers. I predict Tate will win this via third-round submission or a unanimous decision.
