UFC Des Moines is here! Tonight, Dana White’s promotion makes a return to Iowa that’s almost a quarter of a century in the making. Prior to this evening, MMA’s top promotion last made a visit to the state on June 9, 2000, months before Dana White joined the company as its president.
Much has changed in the nearly 25 years between visits, but the action in the famed Octagon is still hot, something that UFC Des Moines will prove this Saturday. Live coverage begins tonight at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT with the prelims.
Main card action from the show follows at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT. Thanks to some adjustments to the linear television schedule, the entirety of tonight’s event will be seen on ESPN in addition to streaming on ESPN+. After a successful weigh-in window yesterday, all 12 fights on the schedule will be going ahead tonight.
UFC Des Moines Main Event
At the top of the bill later on this evening, you’ll be seeing a top-5 showdown at bantamweight between No. 4 contender Cory Sandhagen (17-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) collides with No. 5 contender Deiveson Figueiredo (24-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC), in the latter’s 30th career appearance.
The UFC Des Moines main event is an advertised maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round to close out the night’s activities.
UFC Des Moines Co-Main Event
Immediately beforehand, the co-main attraction of tonight’s event sees action taking place at 185. Former two-division titlist in ONE Championship and current No. 13 contender Reinier de Ridder (19-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) meets up with undefeated Bo Nickal (7-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC.) This is a three-round contest at five minutes each.
Rest of the Card
Also tonight on the UFC Des Moines main card, you’ll be watching a welterweight fight pairing Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) with Daniel Rodriguez (18-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC), a bantamweight contest matching No. 15 contender Montel Jackson (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) with Daniel Marcos (17-0, 1 NC MMA, 4-0, 1 NC UFC), a bantamweight fight between Cameron Smotherman (12-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Serhiy Sidey (11-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC), and a lightweight contest versing Jeremy Stephens (29-21, 1 NC MMA, 15-18, 1 NC UFC) with Mason Jones (15-2, 1 NC MMA, 1-2, 1 NC UFC.)
UFC Des Moines Results
Main Card: (10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT, ESPN and ESPN+)
UFC Des Moines Main Event: Cory Sandhagen def. Deiveson Figuereido by TKO (Injury) at 4:08 into Round 2.
UPSET DELIVERED IN IOWA 💥
Reinier de Ridder with a HUGE knockout in round 2! 👊
[ #UFCDesMoines LIVE NOW on ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/aTh9lulep2
— UFC (@ufc) May 4, 2025
Co-Main Event: Reinier de Ridder def. Bo Nickal by KO (Knee to the Body) at 1:53 into Round 2.
Daniel Rodriguez def. Santiago Ponzinibbio by TKO (Punches) at 1:12 into Round 3.
Montel Jackson def. Daniel Marcos by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27.)
Serhiy Sidey def. Cameron Smotherman by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28.)
Mason Jones def. Jeremy Stephens by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27.)
Prelims: (7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT, ESPN & ESPN+)
UFC Des Moines Featured Prelim: Yana Santos def. Miesha Tate by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28.)
LOOK OUT MIDDLEWEIGHTS 👀
Azamat Bekoev now has back to back 1st round TKO's to start his UFC career 👊
[ #UFCDesMoines LIVE NOW on ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/CwQJhscIsC
— UFC (@ufc) May 4, 2025
Co-Featured Prelim: Azamat Bekoev def. Ryan Loder by TKO (Body Shot to Ground and Pound) at 2:44 into Round 1.
Gillian Robertson def. Marina Rodriguez by TKO (Ground and Pound) at 2:07 into Round 2. Marina Rodriguez retires from MMA after fight.
Quang Le def. Gaston Bolanos by Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:54 into Round 2.
Thomas Petersen def. Don’Tale Mayes by Unanimous Decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-26.)
Juliana Miller def. Ivana Petrovic by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28.)
