UFC Vegas 32: ‘Sandhagen vs Dillashaw’ | 6th Round Post-Fight Show

Zane Simon & Eddie Mercado are here to breakdown this Saturday’s, July 24th, ‘UFC Vegas 32: Cory Sandhagen vs. T.J. Dillashaw’ event. The guys will have hot takes, possible next fights, as well as reactions to the overall event.

Bloody Elbow fight experts, Zane Simon & Eddie Mercado, are here tonight – Saturday, July 24th., 2021, to breakdown the UFC VEGAS 32: ‘Cory Sandhagen vs. T.J. Dillashaw’ Fight Night event, which was broadcast from the cozy confines of the APEX Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The guys will have hot takes, possible next fights, as well as reactions to the overall event in the player above, or on our Bloody Elbow Presents YouTube Channel and BE Presents Podcast Network. (SPOILERS…)

The UFC showcased a Bantamweight bout between BJJ artist, Cory Sandhagen and T.J. Dillashaw, who favors Muay Thai mixed in with his BJJ tonight. ‘The Sandman’ was ranked #2 and was on a two-fight win streak, having defeated both Frankie Edgar and Marlon Moraes during the past year. Dillashaw was making his comeback to the Octagon with some ring rust after his 2-year suspension from 2019 to 2021 for testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug, recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO). Despite Dillashaw’s prolonged absence from the division, he still holds the all-time UFC bantamweight records for wins (12), finishes (8), knockouts (7), title fight wins (5), fight night bonuses (8), knockdowns (9), significant strikes landed (1,004) and total strikes landed (1,340).

Main Event Outcome: After a murderous contest that went on for five gruelingly close rounds, Dillashaw emerged victorious, despite a gnarly gash in his brow, in what turned out to be another controversial decision tonight; this one Split. Dillashaw: (48-47 x2, 47-48). It was such a close fight it was terribly hard to call, and the result was widely debated on social media immediately following the conclusion of the fight. Dillashaw managed to make it through despite some first round knee issues as well. What a comeback!

Our co-main event was slated to be a women’s bout between Aspen Ladd and Macy Chiasson, but we lost it a couple days ago due to Chiasson’s withdraw based on an injury. Our main card Bantamweight bout between up-and-comer Kyler ‘The Matrix’ Phillips and Veteran Raulian Paiva was bumped into the co-main slot at the last minute. The UFC newcomer, Phillips, was on a 4-fight win streak; while the Brazilian Paiva had a 2-fight win streak going for him, out of his 23 matches fourteen of them went to decision.

Co-Main Event Outcome: In a brutal, valiantly fought bloody battle, Paiva took out ‘The Matrix’ in a highly controversial majority decision, despite both fighters seeming tired after the first round. A lot of heart from both men went into this bout. For a last minute co-main filler, this fight did not disappoint. Surely this takes home FOTN honors, and goes down in the books as an instant classic.

Also on the main card, we had Featherweight veterans Darren Elkins vs. Darrick Minner, ladies Flyweights Maycee Barber and Miranda Maverick, and Bantamweights Adrian Yanez vs. Randy Costa.

Notable Outcomes: Yanez had no problem handing a defeat to Costa a couple minutes into the second round via combo punches, in such a marvelous fashion he took home a bonus for his performance tonight. Barber and Maverick went the distance, ending up with a controversial Split Decision victory going to Barber (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). Mainstay Darrin Elkins took out Darrick Minner with Strikes from the Top in the second round.

Four out of our six prelim bouts ended with some wicked finishes, two of them in the first round, the others in the second; each well worth going back to catch a glimpse of if you missed them.

This week the guys’ picks heading into the event were…

Zane: Sandhagen, Eddie: Dillashaw
Ladd/Chiasson: Cancelled – Chiasson withdrew due to injury
Both: Phillips
Zane: Elkins, Eddie: Minner
Both: Maverick
Both: Yanez
Both: Soriano
Zane: Heinisch, Eddie: Imavov
Both: Gall
Both: Arce
Zane: Eubanks, Eddie: Reed
Both: Goldy

Overall, this now 11-bout card saw two exhilarating first round finishes, five impressive KO/TKO’s, one sweet submission, and five decisions – one majority, two split (including our Main Event). Rounding things out, bonuses for putting forth POTN efforts went to Adrian Yanez, Darren Elkins; FOTN honors went to Raulian Paiva vs. Kyler Phillips. What a night of fights we have to share with you, join us to discuss all the action…

Here’s a look at the fight results & updated records for the ‘UFC VEGAS 32’ fight card:

ESPN/ESPN+ MAIN CARD
11. 135lbs: T.J. Dillashaw (17-4) DEF. Cory Sandhagen (14-3) – DEC, SPLIT

10. 135lbs: Raulian Paiva (21-3) DEF. Kyler Phillips (9-2) – DEC, Majority

9. 145lbs: Darren Elkins (26-9) DEF. Darrick Minner (26-12) – KO/TKO, Strikes From the Top at 3:48 of Rd 2, Total 8:49

8. 125lbs: Maycee Barber (9-2) DEF. Miranda Maverick (9-3) – DEC, SPLIT

7. 135lbs: Adrian Yanez (14-3) DEF. Randy Costa (6-2) – KO/TKO, Combination Punches at 2:11 of Rd 2, Total 7:11

ESPN/ESPN+ PRELIMS
6. 185lbs: Brendan Allen (17-4) DEF. Punahele Soriano (8-1) – DEC, Unanimous

5. 185lbs: Nassourdine Imavov (10-3) DEF. Ian Heinisch (14-5) – KO/TKO, Knee to G&P at 3:09 of Rd 2, Total 8:09

4. 170lbs: Mickey Gall (7-3) DEF. Jordan Williams (9-5) – SUB, Rear Naked Choke at 2:57 of Rd 1

3. 135lbs: Julio Arce (17-4) DEF. Andre Ewell (17-8) KO/TKO, Punches at 3:45 of Rd 2, Total 8:45

2. 125lbs: Sijara Eubanks (7-6) DEF. Elise Reed (4-1) – KO/TKO, G&P at 3:49 of Rd 1

1. 115lbs: Diana Belbi?? (14-6) DEF. Hannah Goldy (5-2) – DEC, Unanimous

Be sure to follow Zane – @TheZaneSimon & Dayne – @TheEddieMercado; and follow @BloodyElbow on twitter as well, for all the latest in MMA happenings. ‘Bloody Elbow Presents’ is a mixed martial arts podcast network presented to you by Bloody Elbow:

If you enjoy our show, give us a shout out in the comments here on Bloody Elbow, or give us a “like”, share & subscribe over on whichever ‘BE Presents’ Podcast Channel happens to be your listening platform of choice: SoundCloud, YouTube, iTunes & Apple TV, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, OverCast, or Player FM, & Amazon Music! – While you’re there, don’t forget to subscribe to Bloody Elbow Presents; that way you’ll always be the first to get all of BE’s daily MMA offerings. For previous episodes of the show, check out our playlists on all of our BE Presents channels.