Another weekend, another UFC. The upcoming Fight Night event is bound to bring in a lot of intensity as there are quite a few exciting matchups for fans to look forward too – including the main event between Cory Sandhagen and T.J. Dillashaw. Let’s take a look at three of the most anticipated fights that will be taking place at this event and see who may have the upper hand heading into the ring. Let’s kick this off with the main event.
Cory Sandhagen vs. T.J. Dillashaw
Cory Sandhagen will be looking to march forward with his plan to get the Bantamweight title. He will be taking on T.J. Dillashaw here in this main event. Sandhagen is six years younger than Dillashaw in this matchup, which should make this one pretty interesting on its own. He is also pretty high up on the rankings in the bantamweight division, with a win possibly putting him into title contention. Sandhagen has also won his last two fights, his most recent win came in just 28 seconds into the first round against Frankie Edgar. Meanwhile, Dillashaw is making his return to the octagon after suffering a drug related suspension. Even though he hasn’t been in the ring for a bit, he is still a two-time bantamweight champion. He should be a terrific test for Sandhagen as he looks to build his case for a title shot.
Aspen Ladd vs. Macy Chiasson
Aspen Ladd looks to make a statement in her return to the octagon against Macy Chiasson here in this next fight. Ladd hasn’t fought in over a year but has remained in good enough shape to face off with Chiasson. Ladd is still the number three ranked bantamweight at the moment and could launch the ninth ranked Chiasson up the rankings if she loses. Chiasson has won her last two fights, beating both Shanna Young and Marion Reneau to move herself up in the standings. A win over the 9-1 Ladd could get her catapulted to title contention. It will be interesting to see how Ladd holds up after such a long break from the sport, as it gives Chiasson an opportunity that not many fighters get.
Darren Elkins vs. Darrick Minner
To some, this fight is considered long overdue. Both Darren Elkins and Darrick Minner have been hoping to match up with one another for quite a while now and they finally get the opportunity here. Elkins finally got himself off of a four-fight losing streak by submitting Luiz Eduardo Garagorri in the third round. On the other hand, Minner enters with back-to-back wins with a unanimous decision over Charles Rosa and a 52 second guillotine submission against T.J. Laramie. Minner has spoken out a couple times about his feelings towards Elkins, claiming that he is better all around and that he has wanted to fight him for years. That animosity may all come out in the octagon on July 24th and could possibly mark the end of the rivalry.