Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, will host UFC on ESPN 67 this Saturday night, headlined by a massive bantamweight clash.
The card also features several returning veterans and one of the most promising prospects the middleweight division has seen in recent years.
Let’s take a look at the fights that make up Saturday night’s main card.
Main Event: Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (135 pounds)
Two top-five bantamweights will go head-to-head in the main event, as perennial contender Cory Sandhagen (17-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) looks to return to the win column against former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (24-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC).
"Sandman" will compete in his seventh UFC main event this weekend, making his first appearance since a loss to Umar Nurmagomedov in Abu Dhabi last August.
Figueiredo is also aiming to bounce back after a defeat, having lost to Petr Yan in his most recent outing. The Brazilian is now 3-1 since moving up to 135 pounds.
Figueiredo enjoyed two separate title reigns at flyweight and is tied with Alexandre Pantoja and Demetrious Johnson for the most stoppage wins in the division’s history (7).
Co-Main Event: Reinier de Ridder vs. Bo Nickal (185 pounds)
Former ONE Championship titleholder Reinier de Ridder (19-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) faces a significant step up in competition this weekend when he takes on wrestling phenom Bo Nickal (7-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC).
"RDR" has made quick work of both Gerald Meerschaert and Kevin Holland since joining the UFC late last year, earning two submission victories that bring his total to 17 finishes in 19 professional wins.
Former Penn State wrestling standout Nickal has experienced a meteoric rise since making his UFC debut in 2023. However, he went the distance for the first time in his career during his last fight against Paul Craig at UFC 309 in November.
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez (170 pounds)
Hard-hitting welterweight veteran Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-7 MMA, 12-7 UFC) will look to build on his strong start to 2025 when he faces Daniel Rodriguez (18-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC) this Saturday.
"The Argentine Dagger" makes a quick turnaround following his knockout win over Carlston Harris in January, as he aims to tie Anthony "Rumble" Johnson and Vicente Luque for the most first-round knockout victories in UFC welterweight history (5).
"D-Rod" is also coming off a win, having edged out Alex Morono at the UFC Apex in October to end a three-fight losing streak.
Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos (135 pounds)
Two bantamweights on extended unbeaten streaks will square off on Saturday night's main card, as Wisconsin’s Montel Jackson (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) takes on undefeated Peruvian standout Daniel Marcos (17-0, 1 NC MMA, 4-0, 1 NC UFC).
Jackson has won five straight at 135 pounds, and his 18-second knockout of Da’Mon Blackshear in his last outing stands as the second-fastest finish in UFC bantamweight history—just one second behind Erik Perez’s 17-second win at UFC 150.
Cameron Smotherman vs. Serhiy Sidey (135 pounds)
Also in the bantamweight division, Cameron Smotherman (12-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) looks to build on his impressive start in the UFC as he takes on Serhiy Sidey (11-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC).
The former Fury FC champion earned a decision win over Jake Hadley in his Octagon debut last October, while Sidey picked up his first UFC victory against Garrett Armfield in November.
Jeremy Stephens vs. Mason Jones (155 pounds)
Jeremy Stephens is set to return to the Octagon nearly four years after his last UFC appearance.
Stephens (29-21 MMA, 15-18 UFC) made his UFC debut back in 2007 and competed 34 times under the promotion's banner. "Lil' Heathen" moved to the PFL in 2021 and later transitioned to BKFC, where he has won his last three fights.
Since 2018, Stephens has gone 1-7 with one no contest in MMA, but he's been brought back on a one-fight deal to compete in his hometown.
He will face former Cage Warriors two-division champion Mason Jones (15-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC), who returns to the UFC after earning four straight wins following his release from the promotion in 2022.
