UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw

UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw
The poster for UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw.
Information
Promotion	Ultimate Fighting Championship
Date	July 24, 2021 (2021-07-24)
Venue	UFC Apex
City	Enterprise, Nevada
Attendance	51 [1]
Event chronology
UFC on ESPN: Makhachev vs. Moisés UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland

UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw (also known as UFC on ESPN 27 and UFC Vegas 32) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on July 24, 2021, at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States. ^[2]

Background

51 VIP premium packages were sold at $2000 each to a selected number of people who could attend the event. This was the first time fans were allowed to attend UFC events at the UFC Apex. These VIP packages were sold for subsequent events at the venue as well. ^[1]

A bantamweight bout between former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion T.J. Dillashaw and Cory Sandhagen served as the event headliner. ^[2] It was Dillashaw's first fight since his two-year suspension due to testing positive for recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO), which resulted in his title vacancy. ^{[3] [4]} They were expected to serve as the headliner of UFC on ESPN: Rodriguez vs. Waterson, but the bout was postponed after Dillashaw got injured due to a cut sustained from a headbutt. ^[5]

Raphael Assunção and Kyler Phillips were scheduled to meet in a bantamweight bout. ^[6] However, Assunção suffered a biceps injury in late June and was replaced by Raulian Paiva. ^[7]

Priscila Cachoeira was linked to a bout with Sijara Eubanks at the event. ^[8] However, the pairing was never officially announced by the promotion and Eubanks faced promotional newcomer Elise Reed instead. ^[9]

Bantamweight pairings of Trevin Jones vs. Tony Kelley and Aaron Phillips vs. Cameron Else were scheduled for the event. ^{[10] [11]} However, on July 4, Kelly withdrew from the bout due to unknown reasons and subsequently, Else was removed for undisclosed reasons in mid-July. ^{[12] [13]} As a result, Phillips was expected to face Jones on the card. ^[13] However, on July 18, Phillips had to withdraw from the bout and Jones was moved to UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland against Ronnie Lawrence. ^[14]

A heavyweight bout between Shamil Abdurakhimov and Chris Daukaus was initially scheduled for this event. ^[15] However, the matchup was removed from the card on July 19 due to COVID-19 protocols within Abdurakhimov's camp. The pairing was expected to be left intact and take place one week later at UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland, but it was postponed again and took place at UFC 266. ^[16]

A women's bantamweight bout between Aspen Ladd and The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters featherweight winner Macy Chiasson was expected to take place at the event. ^[17] However, the bout was scrapped during fight week due to Chiasson suffering a stress fracture on her foot. ^{[18] [19]}

Results

Main card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Bantamweight	T.J. Dillashaw	def.	Cory Sandhagen	Decision (split) (47–48, 48–47, 48–47)	5	5:00
Bantamweight	Raulian Paiva	def.	Kyler Phillips	Decision (majority) (29–28, 29–28, 28–28)	3	5:00
Featherweight	Darren Elkins	def.	Darrick Minner	TKO (punches)	2	3:48
Women’s Flyweight	Maycee Barber	def.	Miranda Maverick	Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28)	3	5:00
Bantamweight	Adrian Yanez	def.	Randy Costa	TKO (punches)	2	2:11
Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Middleweight	Brendan Allen	def.	Punahele Soriano	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)	3	5:00
Middleweight	Nassourdine Imavov	def.	Ian Heinisch	TKO (punches)	2	3:09
Welterweight	Mickey Gall	def.	Jordan Williams	Submission (rear-naked choke)	1	2:57
Bantamweight	Julio Arce	def.	Andre Ewell	TKO (punches)	2	3:45
Women’s Flyweight	Sijara Eubanks	def.	Elise Reed	TKO (punches)	1	3:49
Women’s Strawweight	Diana Belbiţă	def.	Hannah Goldy	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)	3	5:00

^[20]

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses. ^[21]

• Fight of the Night: Raulian Paiva vs. Kyler Phillips
• Performance of the Night: Darren Elkins and Adrian Yanez

See also

• Martial Arts portal

• List of UFC events
• List of current UFC fighters
• 2021 in UFC

References

1. Alan Snel (2021-07-24). "UFC's Apex building hosts fans with $2,000 VIP admission package for first time at tonight's UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas". lvsportsbiz.com. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
2. Mike Bohn and Farah Hannoun (2021-05-18). "T.J. Dillashaw's return vs. Cory Sandhagen rebooked for UFC Fight Night on July 24". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
3. Ariel Helwani (2019-03-20). "Dillashaw gives up belt, suspended by NYSAC". espn.com. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
4. Brett Okamoto (2019-04-09). "USADA suspends Dillashaw 2 years for EPO use". espn.com. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
5. Mike Bohn (2021-04-27). "Facial cut forces T.J. Dillashaw from UFC comeback fight vs. Cory Sandhagen". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
6. Staff (2021-04-27). "Kyler Phillips announces fight with Raphael Assunção in UFC on July 24th". ge.globo.com. Retrieved 2021-06-26.(in Portuguese)
7. Marcelo Barone (2021-06-25). "Raulian Paiva replaces Raphael Assunção and will face Kyler Phillips in July". ge.globo.com. Retrieved 2021-06-26.(in Portuguese)
8. Raphael Marinho and Zeca Azevedo (2021-05-28). "UFC: Karol Rosa injures her eye and Pedrita replaces her against Sijara Eubanks". globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 2021-05-28.(in Portuguese)
9. Farah Hannoun (2021-06-29). "Sijara Eubanks vs. Elise Reed added to UFC Fight Night 191 on July 24". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
10. Alex Behunin (2021-04-16). "Trevin Jones vs. Tony Kelley set for July 24 UFC fight card". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
11. Marcel Dorff (2021-04-16). "Cameron Else and Aaron Phillips look for first UFC win on July 17". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2021-04-17.(in Dutch)
12. Afnan Chougle (2021-07-04). "Tony Kelley withdraws from the fight against Trevin Jones on July 24. UFC is still searching for a replacement". essentiallysports.com. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
13. Farah Hannoun (2021-07-15). "With Cameron Else out, Aaron Phillips targeted to meet Trevin Jones at UFC on ESPN 27". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
14. Nolan King and Farah Hannoun (2021-07-18). "With opponents out, Trevin Jones and Ronnie Lawrence meet at UFC on ESPN 28". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
15. Alfredo Zullino (2021-05-28). "Shamil Abdurakhimov returns to action on July 24, faces Chris Daukaus". bjpenn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
16. Damon Martin (2021-07-19). "Chris Daukaus vs. Shamil Abdurakhimov pulled from UFC Vegas 32, fight now expected to take place on July 31". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
17. Alexander K. Lee and Mike Heck (2021-04-06). "Aspen Ladd to fight Macy Chiasson at UFC event on July 24". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
18. Nolan King and John Morgan (2021-07-22). "UFC on ESPN 27 loses co-main event after Macy Chiasson forced out of Aspen Ladd fight due to injury". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
19. Alexander K. Lee (2021-07-24). "Macy Chiasson says UFC Vegas 32 withdrawal was due to stress fracture in foot". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
20. "UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
21. Dan Hiergesell (2021-07-24). "UFC Vegas 32 bonuses: Darren Elkins, Adrian Yanez lead $50K winners". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2021-07-24.