Presented by UFC 241 on ESPN+
Watching a big fight is always more interesting when you know a bit about the athletes and competitors. A little knowledge goes a long way, creating an emotional investment that converts casual viewers into hardcore fans. Plus, a bit of insight always make you look like the educated and popular guy at the bar or a big fight party.
Over the last few months, we’ve been rolling out these extensive looks inside many of the biggest UFC Pay Per View events on ESPN+, and the upcoming UFC 241 fight card is no different. We’re all in on bringing you the most compelling stories from the Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic main event and interesting tidbits surrounding the highly anticipated fight between Nate Diaz and Anthony “Showtime” Pettis. But what about the other fights on the card? Who are the fighters people need to watch out for?
Well, that’s simple. Take a gander below and brush up on three fighters to look out for on the UFC 241 fight card on ESPN+.
Paulo “The Eraser” Costa
Talk about a stud.
Undefeated middleweight prospect Paulo Costa has been downright perfect since joining the UFC in 2017. He’s actually been perfect since the day he made his professional MMA debut in 2012, finishing all 12 of his victories, 11 by knockout.
Currently ranked seventh at 185 pounds, Costa is taking a huge step up in competition at UFC 241, facing off against two time title challenger Yoel Romero, but “The Eraser” has been asking for a big fight ever since he destroyed Uriah Hall with punches a little over a year ago.
Costa has the look and he has the skills to back it up. For years now, he’s been calling himself the next great Brazilian UFC fighter, and he just might be.
What’s more? Going back a year, Costa has been building up some heat with current interim middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, so a win over Romero on the UFC 241 Pay Per View main card could very well put “The Eraser” on the short track for a title shot.
Check him out on August 17, and don’t forget to mention that he’s knocked out all four of his previous UFC opponents, including former champion Johny Hendricks.
Ian “The Hurricane” Heinisch
Another middleweight to watch, tenth-ranked Ian Heinisch has been making waves since he earned his UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, which coincidentally is available as part of the ESPN+ subscription.
A wrestler from Denver, Heinisch is 13-1 as an MMA pro. However, his biggest win didn’t come in the Octagon. No. His biggest win came in 2014, when he was released from federal prison for a series of domestic and international drug trafficking offenses that took him from Colorado, to Amsterdam, to Tenerife, to Spain.
It’s a wild story actually. It’s so wild that there’s a movie about his life in the early stages of development. Even Channing Tatum is rumored to be attached as the star, but nothing is official yet.
See these are exactly the type of nuggets you can break out at any fight party and people will assume you know your stuff.
Heinisch is a two-to-one favorite in his fight against Derek Brunson, but that’s not a great bet. Brunson is a live dog with a significant experience edge.
Still, it’s a quality fight between top-ten middleweights, and Heinisch is well on his way to becoming a well-known name inside the MMA bubble.
Cory Sandhagen
Less that 17 months into his UFC career, Cory Sandhagen has already climbed into the top ten at bantamweight and is looking for his fifth win inside the Octagon. It’s rather remarkable to say the least.
Long and lanky, with hella style in his striking game, Sandhagen uses his reach and range like a savvy veteran, but he’s also not afraid to mix it up with the division’s heaviest punchers, completely throwing caution to the wind when the time calls for it.
While the division is a bit logjammed with bantamweight contenders like Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan, who are waiting for champion Henry Cejudo to return from a shoulder injury, Sandhagen still has some room to grow and develop before jumping into the title picture. This UFC 241 bout against Raphael Assuncao is the perfect gauge to see if Sandhagen is a legit contender or simply a pretender.
Assuncao has been near the top of the UFC bantamweight division ever since the division was created in 2011, and while he’s likely not getting a title shot any time soon, he’s a true gatekeeper, a guy who’s good enough to beat almost anyone, save a few elite guys at the top. But if you’re not ready for the task, Assuncao will eat you alive.
It’s quite possible that Cory Sandhagen, who enters the fight at a -170 favorite, is ready for the challenge. He’s already been pegged as a future champ by many in the Colorado MMA scene. Now it’s time for him to put it all together if he wants to climb into the top-five.
UFC 241 Pay Per View Main Card on ESPN+ (7 p.m. PST / 10 p.m. EST)*
- Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic (Main Event)
- Anthony Pettis vs. Nate Diaz (Co-Main Event)
- Yoel Romero vs. Paulo Costa
- Gabriel Benitez vs. Sodiq Yusuff
- Derek Brunson vs. Ian Heinisch
UFC 241 Prelims*
- Raphael Assuncao vs. Cory Sandhagen
- Drakkar Klose vs. Christos Giagos
- Manny Bermudez vs. Casey Kenney
- Devonte Smith vs. John Makdessi
- Kyung Ho Kang vs. Brandon Davis
- Sabina Mazo vs. Shana Dobson
- Hannah Cifers vs. Jodie Esquibel
*Bout Order Subject to Change
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