Significant Stats | UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs Dillashaw

What It Means: Sandhagen is a highly skilled, physically long presence at bantamweight, and his striking arsenal makes him a puzzle of movement and danger for the best at 135. He is adept at striking from both stances and appears comfortable managing distance on the outside as well as engaging in the pocket. He stays committed to the body and likes to tack on a left hook to his opponent’s midsection at the end of combinations. His array of kicks is diverse, and his technique is consistently clean. On the ground, he is pretty slick with submissions and active off his back.

Don't Miss TJ Dillashaw's Return To The Octagon
 

TJ Dillashaw

Key Stats: 7 KO/TKO wins (1st all-time among BW), +2.44 striking differential (tied-5th all-time among BW), 1.68 takedowns per 15 minutes

What It Means: Dillashaw is a shifty, quirky fighter whose cadence makes life hard for his opponents. He can slide in and out of range with quickness, and he takes every opportunity to land a counter shot. His wrestling is strong and allows him to mix skills up nicely, but his ability to set traps and land devastating shots is a testament to his fight IQ. He has been able to recover from early adversity, as well, so even if he gets put on the back foot, don’t expect the former champion to wilt whatsoever.

Read Our Fight By Fight Breakdown

What to Look For in the Fight: This is an incredibly intriguing matchup between a pair of elite bantamweights. On the feet, the two are distinct in their movements but with similar goals of wanting to manage range and dictate the pace of the fight. Sandhagen is the longer man and he utilizes his length well with front kicks and low kicks, as well as a committed jab, but finding the tempo to land those strikes is tricky with Dillashaw. How Dillashaw looks after more than two years away from competition is a question mark everyone holds, but if he’s close to prime form, he is a dangerous and tricky opponent for Sandhagen.
 

Co-Main Event: Aspen Ladd vs Macy Chiasson

Aspen Ladd

Key Stats: 44.5% control time percentage (5th all-time among WBW), 0.41 knockdowns per 15 minutes (3rd all-time among WBW), 5.22 strikes landed per minute (5th all-time among WBW)

What It Means: “Puna” is a tank of a middleweight with dynamite in his hands. He employs a “boxer/wrestler” style that makes the most of his physical tools, and the knowledge of his power helps him to pour pressure on even if he can’t land the first few punches. If he chooses to grapple, he has a good, fundamental wrestling base that allows him to keep opponents honest.

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Brendan Allen

Key Stats: 3.35 strikes landed per minute, 50% takedown defense, 2.1 submissions per 15 minutes

What It Means: “All In” is a well-rounded, skilled mixed martial artist with a propensity to move forward no matter what, even if that lands him in a dogfight with a lesser skilled opponent. His submission skills are excellent, and he is as dangerous off his back as he is when in control. On the feet, he likes to use a front kick to keep range, and his hands are heavy when he can let them go without abandon.

WATCH: Brendan Allen Believes It's His Time

What to Look For in the Fight: This is Soriano’s toughest test yet, but the undefeated Hawaiian has shown great promise in his pair of UFC fights. Allen will want to manage the range and tempo of the fight, but he has confidence in his ability to both strike and grapple with Soriano. Soriano’s physical strength and power is the game-changer in the fight and gives him the chance to change the tide of the fight at any moment, but it will be the stiffest test of his technique and skills to date.

*Hasn’t competed in division enough to qualify in UFC Record Book