The UFC heads to the cornfields as the promotion brings Fight Night to Des Moines, Iowa.

Over in the Midwest, we’re looking at 12 fights for our wagering pleasure this weekend, with the UFC trying to get away from the Apex.

The crowd-less Apex is just not a fun place for fights, and fans bring a different juice for fighters as they jump into the octagon, getting cheered or jeered as they take the cage.

It should be a rabid crowd in Iowa as it’s the first time that the UFC has been in the Hawkeye State since UFC 26 in June 2000.

They also have a solid card in front of them as Saturday’s bouts feature a nice mix of stars, former champions and prospects looking to make the leap. It begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+ before heading to ESPN2 at 10 p.m.

Former champ Figueiredo is doing his business at bantamweight, up from flyweight, and is perhaps expectedly a bit undersized at his new weight class.

The oddsmakers have Figueiredo as a +350 underdog as he’s going to walk into the cage at a 6-inch height disadvantage against Cory Sandhagen.

Sandhagen is looking for a title shot with a win Saturday, and surely will shoot for a finish to stake his case at a loaded 135-pound division.

Sandhagen by decision (-150) is the most likely outcome, according to the odds and certainly with good reason.

Figueiredo has some good power, but Sandhagen is very difficult to hit. Barring knocking Sandhagen unconscious, Figueiredo is going to have a tough night at the office here.

Figueiredo is not the better grappler, nor does he have stronger cardio, nor cleaner kickboxing.

This should be a clean win for Sandhagen, and by decision is a solid look at the price (-550 on the moneyline).

Pick: Sandhagen wins by decision (-150, Caesars).

A former Penn State All-American wrestler, Nickal has all the makings of a pay-per-view star for the UFC. He is a big favorite in this fight against de Ridder, although he’s a smaller favorite than he has been in past bouts.

Nickal has closed as an at least -1,100 favorite in each of his six UFC or Contender Series fights, so this matchup, when he will walk into the cage with a -330 price tag, profiles as the most competitive to date.

The grappling savant won by decision last time out against Paul Craig, when he showcased some sloppy striking but was still able to take home a victory and remain undefeated.

Where things get a little dicey for de Ridder is that he’s not a particularly strong striker, which any opponent of Nickal will need to have in his repertoire to win.

Nickal is new to MMA, although he is a decorated grappler, while de Ridder is no slouch himself.

I see their grappling abilities canceling each other out a bit in the beginning of the fight, and eventually Nickel to win either late in the second round or early in the third.

Pick: Nickal wins in Over 1.5 rounds (-105, DraftKings).

Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Daniel Rodriguez: Ponzinibbio moneyline (+100, BetRivers).

Montel Jackson vs. Daniel Marcos: Jackson wins inside the distance (+275, Bet365).

Jeremy Stephens vs. Mason Jones: Stephens by KO/TKO (+950, BetRivers).

Cameron Smotherman vs. Serhiy Sidey: Pass.

Yana Santos vs. Miesha Tate: Tate by submission (+650, BetRivers).

Ryan Loder vs. Azamat Bekoev: Fight goes the distance (+110, DraftKings).

Marina Rodriguez vs. Gillian Robertson: Rodriguez by KO/TKO (+1100, Fanatics).

Gaston Bolanos vs. Quang Le: Bolanos moneyline (-135, DraftKings).

Thomas Petersen vs. Don’Tale Mayes: Peterson by KO/TKO (+400, BetMGM).

Juliana Miller vs. Ivana Petrovic: Pass.