UFC Des Moines is upon us. While Wells Fargo Arena is normally the home field for the Indoor Football League’s Iowa Barnstormers at this time of year, this week, the Barnstormers face a road game in Jacksonville this week.
As the Barnstormers attempt to win their second game of the season this Saturday night against the Jacksonville Sharks, Wells Fargo Arena will be rocking for UFC Des Moines. This begins a busy May for the UFC, as the promotion will stage four shows in the next five weekends.
First UFC Show in Iowa Since ’00 Happens with UFC Des Moines This Weekend
Saturday’s date in Des Moines is a long time in the making. Prior to this card, the last time that the UFC touched down in the state of Iowa was June 9, 2000 for UFC 26.
That evening, the late Kevin Randleman bested Pedro Rizzo in a heavyweight championship main event after 25 minutes of action by way of unanimous decision. Randleman passed on in February of 2016 at 44 years of age due to pneumonia while en route to a business trip.
Since that date, the UFC has become one of the most internationally-known brands in the world of sports. All told, UFC Des Moines will feature a schedule of 12 MMA fights.
Inside the United States, live coverage of Saturday night’s event, headlined by Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figuereido in the main attraction can be seen gavel-to-gavel on ESPN+ beginning with the undercard at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT, followed by the main card at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT, carried by ESPN2.
UFC Des Moines Featured Prelim: No. 10 Contender Yana Santos vs. No. 12 Contender Miesha Tate
At the top of the bill for the undercard of UFC Des Moines, you’ll be treated to a contest between two seasoned veterans of the game at women’s bantamweight. No. 10 contender Yana Santos (15-8, 1 NC MMA, 5-5 UFC) will be making her 11th walk to the famed Octagon when she takes on No. 12 contender Miesha Tate (20-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC.)
Yana Santos, formerly known as Yana Kunitskaya, enters UFC Des Moines this weekend having posted a mark of 2-3 in her last five fights. Back on Aug. 10 of last year, she returned to the win column thanks to a unanimous decision over Chelsea Chandler (6-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC), who just fought last week, after three rounds.
Getting off of a three-fight losing streak could not have come at a better time for Santos. Can she stay in the top-10 at 135 with a win on Saturday night in Des Moines?
Across the way, Miesha Tate has gone 2-3 herself over the past five fights and will be making her 30th appearance in MMA this weekend. Last time out, she finished Julia Avila (9-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) with a third-round submission by way of rear-naked choke in a minute and 15 seconds on Dec. 2, 2023.
She hasn’t fought in 17 months, so what kind of ring rust does Tate have going into UFC Des Moines? Tune into the featured prelim and find out.
UFC Des Moines Co-Featured Prelim: Ryan Loder vs. Azamat Bekoev
Immediately prior to the featured undercard bout of UFC Des Moines, the co-featured prelim sees action take place at 185 lbs. Ryan Loder (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) will be making his second walk to the Octagon as a professional and first in a traditional arena setting when he squares off against Azamat Bekoev (19-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC.)
Loder enters this contest on the strength of a 4-1 record in his last five pro fights. A graduate of the 2024 season of The Ultimate Fighter television series, he secured his UFC contract last August at the UFC Apex during the live finale against Robert Valentin (10-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC), finishing him with ground and pound shots inside the second round. He was supposed to fight two months ago but his contest against
This is a young man who’s conquered the local MMA circuit and won three bouts in succession in The Ultimate Fighter tournament to get to the No. 1 promotion in the world. It’s up to him to turn the contract into a prolonged run in the UFC at 185. It starts on Saturday in the co-main event.
Meanwhile, Azamat Bekoev will touch down in Iowa for his second UFC fight this year. On Jan. 18 during UFC 311, he stopped Zach Reese (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) via first-round knockout (ground and pound.)
He’ll have a quick turnaround for the UFC Des Moines co-featured prelim. Just 105 days will have elapsed by the time the cage door closes on Saturday night. Will he go 2-for-2 in the UFC in three and a half months’ time?
UFC Des Moines: No. 9 Contender Marina Rodriguez vs. No. 12 Contender Gillian Robertson
Also on the UFC Des Moines undercard, there will be a strawweight fixture matching No. 9 contender Marina Rodriguez (17-5-2 MMA, 7-5-2 UFC) against No. 12 contender Gillian Robertson (15-8 MMA, 12-6 UFC) in the latter’s 19th UFC bout. Rodriguez enters this weekend with a mark of 1-4 in her last five fights.
Presently, she’s on a two-fight skid. On Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City, Rodriguez dropped a split decision at the hands of Iasmin Lucindo (17-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) during UFC 307. This was the last of a four-fight winning streak for the latter.
In order to find the last time Rodriguez had a sustained winning streak in MMA, you’d have to go back to a four-fight streak between January of 2021 and March of 2022. Another defeat in UFC Des Moines would mark three for Marina Rodriguez, so can she right the ship?
In the other corner, Gillian Robertson will be headed down to the United States while sporting a record of 4-1 in her last five appearances and is on a three-fight winning streak at the moment. Last fall, she picked up a unanimous decision victory over Luana Pinheiro (11-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) at the Apex facility in Enterprise, NV.
Gillian Robertson is on a hot streak going into UFC Des Moines and this prelim vs. Rodriguez is a crucial fight. Should the Canadian get her hand raised in victory on Saturday night, she could find herself in the top-10 at 115 on Monday morning.
Final Thoughts
Which prelim or prelims are you looking forward to on UFC Des Moines? Let us know in the comments.
