| UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw | ||||
| 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: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw (also known asUFC on ESPN 27 andUFC Vegas 32) was amixed martial arts event produced by theUltimate Fighting Championship that took place on July 24, 2021, at theUFC Apex facility inEnterprise, Nevada, part of theLas Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.[2]
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 theUFC Apex. These VIP packages were sold for subsequent events at the venue as well.[1]
A bantamweight bout between former two-timeUFC Bantamweight ChampionT.J. Dillashaw andCory Sandhagen served as the event headliner.[2] It was Dillashaw's first fight since his two-year suspension due to testing positive forrecombinant human erythropoietin (EPO), which resulted in his title vacancy.[3][4] They were expected to serve as the headliner ofUFC 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 andKyler Phillips were scheduled to meet in a bantamweight bout.[6] However, Assunção suffered a biceps injury in late June and was replaced byRaulian Paiva.[7]
Priscila Cachoeira was linked to a bout withSijara Eubanks at the event.[8] However, the pairing was never officially announced by the promotion and Eubanks faced promotional newcomerElise Reed instead.[9]
Bantamweight pairings ofTrevin Jones vs.Tony Kelley andAaron Phillips vs. Cameron Else were scheduled for the event.[10][11] However, on July 4, Kelly withdrew from the bout for 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 toUFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland against Ronnie Lawrence.[14]
A heavyweight bout betweenShamil Abdurakhimov andChris Daukaus was initially scheduled for this event.[15] However, the matchup was removed from the card on July 19 due toCOVID-19 protocols within Abdurakhimov's camp. The pairing was expected to be left intact and take place one week later atUFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland, but it was postponed again and took place atUFC 266.[16]
A women's bantamweight bout betweenAspen Ladd andThe Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters featherweight winnerMacy Chiasson was expected to take place at the event.[17] However, the bout was scrapped during fight week due to Chiasson suffering astress fracture on her foot.[18][19]
| 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 Yañez | 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 | |
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[21]
