Saturday, UFC 250 sees the UFC Apex host a pay-per-view event for the first time when some of the sport’s brightest prospects get ready to showcase their potential on the big stage in Las Vegas.
Headlining the event is a fight between two-division UFC women’s champion Amanda Nunes and challenge Felicia Spencer. Nunes is putting her 145-pound title on the line for the first time.
Also on the card is a pivotal bantamweight clash between Aljamain Sterling and Cory Sandhagen, who are looking to cement themselves as the No. 1 contender at 135 pounds.
And Dana White’s Contender Series alums Sean O’Malley, Alonzo Menifield and Chase Hooper all will look to remain unbeaten as they continue to climb up the ranks in their divisions.
UFC 250 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Ahead of fight night, let’s take a closer look at four fighters on the rise at UFC 250.
Cory Sandhagen
Elevation Fight Team’s Cory Sandhagen has dazzled since joining the UFC roster in January 2018.
Displaying a creative and technical style, the well-rounded Sandhagen (12-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) quickly showed off his skills, stopping his first three opponents in the UFC.
He was given a big step up in competition when he was matched up with the hard-hitting John Lineker, and Sandhagen was able to use his footwork and movement to outmaneuver the Brazilian powerhouse.
He then faced Raphael Assuncao at UFC 241 this past August and picked up a dominant decision win over the 135-pound staple for his biggest victory to date.
Five UFC fights into his career, Sandhagen finds himself on the cusp of a title shot when he takes on fellow streaking bantamweight Aljamain Sterling at UFC 250.
Next up: “The Suga Show” looks for sweet return
Sean O’Malley
Sean O'Malley had one of the most impressive showings in Dana White’s Contender Series history. He put his full striking arsenal on display and wowed the UFC president with a knockout of Alfred Khashakyan in 2017.
The fast-rising star made good on his UFC debut later that year and defeated Terrion Ware with a unanimous decision. O’Malley picked up his first UFC bonus when he went the distance with Andre Soukhamthath at UFC 222 in a fight in which he showed a lot of heart after injuring his foot in the third round.
But the undefeated O’Malley (11-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) saw his momentum halted when he tested positive for ostarine prior to an October 2018 fight. The failed drug test later was determined to be from a contaminated supplement by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
He returned after a two-year layoff in March and stopped Jose Quinonez in just one round for his second straight performance bonus.
O’Malley opens up the UFC 250 main card on pay-per-view against former WEC bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland.
Next up: Light heavyweight powerhouse looks to pick up where he left off
Alonzo Menifield
Fortis MMA knockout artist Alonzo Menifield has not only finished all of his opponents, but he’s only gone past the first round twice.
Menifield (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) earned a contract on DWCS in 2018 when he stopped Dashawn Boatwright in just eight seconds. He made short work of his next two opponents, as well, when he took out Vinicius Moreira and Paul Craig, both in Round 1.
He will look to continue his ascent up the 205-pound rankings when takes on Devin Clark at UFC 250.
Next up: “The Teenage Dream” looks to build momentum
Chase Hooper
Although Chase Hooper impressed in his appearance on DWCS in 2018, it was only enough to earn him a development deal.
He was just 18 at the time, but Hooper quickly found his place on the UFC roster after back-to-back finishes of Sky Moiseichik and Luis Gomez.
Hooper (9-0-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) made his official promotional debut this past December against skilled striker Daniel Teymur at UFC 245.
It almost was a rude awakening for the charismatic featherweight, who found himself battling early adversity when Teymur grabbed his neck for a front choke, then tagged him with a solid right hand.
But Hooper managed to turn the tables. He survived the early adversity and dragged Teymur to the canvas. He used his superior grappling skills to finish Teymur with ground-and-pound in the first round.
Hooper returns Saturday against Alex Caceres in the featured prelim at UFC 250.
