Live results and analysis: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw
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Former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw has had several huge moments throughout his career, but Saturday’s Fight Night main event against Cory Sandhagen might be the biggest fight of his career — at least in terms of perception.
Dillashaw (16-4) returns to competition for the first time in two and a half years after serving a two-year suspension for taking erythropoietin (EPO).
Dillashaw, 35, says he has moved past his mistake and is looking toward the future.
The rest of the sport, predictably, is not ready to do the same. Fair or not, a large part of Dillashaw’s legacy will be determined by how he looks in this comeback. If he resembles the fighter he once was, it will be easier for history to write off the 2019 failed test as an anomaly. If he looks significantly different, history won’t be as kind in judging his previous accomplishments.
“Is there pressure to prove myself after what happened? I mean, that’s a question for other people,” Dillashaw said. “I know the truth and I don’t really care. I’m not gonna add that pressure to myself.”
Prospects such as Miranda Maverick, Maycee Barber and Brendan Allen highlight the undercard.
Follow the action with Marc Raimondi and Mike Coppinger or watch the fights on ESPN+.
Fight in progress:
Men’s bantamweight: Julio Arce (16-4, 3-2 UFC, -200) vs. Andre Ewell (17-7, 4-3 UFC, +170)
Results:
Women’s flyweight: Sijara Eubanks (8-6, 6-4 UFC) defeats Elise Reed (4-1, 0-1 UFC) by first-round TKO
Eubanks made quick work of Reed, forcing the referee to intervene at 3:49 of the opening round.
Eubanks, 36, completely closed Reed’s right eye and finished her from ground-and-pound position following an onslaught of punches and elbows that hit their mark. She connected on 19-of-34 ground strikes. Reed didn’t so much as attempt a strike from her back.
BIG performance by @SarjNCharge 😤
[ #UFCVegas32 | LIVE on ESPN & E+ ] pic.twitter.com/QRAoDpZMXO
— UFC (@ufc) July 24, 2021
The victory, Eubanks’ first finish in nine UFC fights, marked her return to 125 pounds. Eubanks owns a win over Lauren Murphy, who meets Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC flyweight title at UFC 266. Eubanks’ third consecutive victory is tied for third-longest active win streak in the division.
— Coppinger
Strawweight: Diana Belbita (14-6, 1-2 UFC) defeats Hannah Goldy (5-2, 0-2 UFC) by unanimous decision
Belbita and her right hand are a dangerous addition to the UFC strawweight division.
In an impressive performance, Belbita dropped Goldy in the first round and rocked her in the third with right crosses en route to a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) win to open UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw. Belbita nearly finished Goldy in the first round before getting taken down. Goldy was able to take Belbita down late in the third again and land huge elbows. But Belbita survived and prevailed.
Early knockdown for @DianaBelbita 😱 #UFCVegas32 pic.twitter.com/lbC5VCUSoi
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 24, 2021
Belbita, 25, was making her debut at strawweight after moving down from flyweight. The Romania native, who fights out of Canada, snapped a two-fight losing streak. Goldy, a 29-year-old fighting out of Florida, has dropped her first two UFC fights after earning her way into the promotion on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018.
— Raimondi
Still to come:
Men’s bantamweight: Cory Sandhagen (14-2, 7-1 UFC, -195) vs. TJ Dillashaw (17-4, 12-4 UFC, +165)
Men’s bantamweight: Kyler Phillips (9-1, 3-0 UFC, -260) vs. Raulian Paiva (20-3, 2-2 UFC, +210)
Men’s featherweight: Darren Elkins (26-9, 15-8 UFC, +135) vs. Darrick Minner (26-11, 2-1 UFC, -160)
Women’s flyweight: Miranda Maverick (11-2, 2-0 UFC, -150) vs. Maycee Barber (8-2, 3-2 UFC, +125)
Welterweight: Mickey Gall (6-3, 5-3 UFC, +155) vs. Jordan Williams (9-4, 0-1 UFC, -180)
Middleweight: Punahele Soriano (8-0, 2-0 UFC, -110) vs. Brendan Allen (16-4, 4-1 UFC, -110)
Middleweight: Nassourdine Imavov (9-3, 1-1 UFC, +135) vs. Ian Heinisch (14-4, 4-3 UFC, -160)
Men’s bantamweight: Randy Costa (6-1, 2-1 UFC, +200) vs. Adrian Yanez (13-3, 2-0 UFC, -240)
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