UFC on ESPN 43: Vera vs. Sandhagen Odds, Schedule, Predictions
Marlon "Chito" Vera and Cory Sandhagen will meet in a crucial bantamweight showdown as the UFC heads to San Antonio for UFC on ESPN 43.
Vera and Sandhagen sit on the fringe of the 135-pound title picture, but the winner will be right in the mix by the end of Saturday night.
That's especially true if Vera finds a way to be victorious. He's coming in on a four-fight win streak that includes a head-kick knockout of former champion Dominick Cruz in his last fight.
Sandhagen is looking to continue a redemption tour after losing back-to-back decisions to Petr Yan and T.J. Dillashaw. He earned a TKO stoppage win between the fourth and fifth rounds against Song Yadong last time out.
In the co-main, Holly Holm and Yana Santos will attempt to get on the right track. Holm lost against Ketlen Vieira in her last matchup, while Santos lost to Irene Aldana in her most recent bout.
Here's a look at the complete card and a preview for the three biggest fights.
Fight Card, Schedule and Odds
1 of 4
Main Card (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET)
- Marlon Vera (+140) vs. Cory Sandhagen (-165)
- Holly Holm (-245) vs. Yana Santos (+205)
- Nate Landwehr (-200) vs. Austin Lingo (+170)
- Maycee Barber (-260) vs. Andrea Lee (+220)
- Manel Kape (-190) vs. Alex Perez (+160)
- Albert Duraev (+130) vs. Chidi Njokuani (-150)
Prelims (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
- Tucker Lutz (-275) vs. Daniel Pineda (+230)
- Lucas Alexander (+135) vs. Steven Peterson (-155)
- Trevin Giles (-110) vs. Preston Parsons (-110)
- Daniel Da Silva (+210) vs. CJ Vergara (-250)
- Victor Altamirano (-105) vs. Vinicius Salvador (-115)
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Vera vs. Sandhagen
2 of 4
The main event is one that should excite any fight fan. Vera and Sandhagen are two true mixed martial artists in the sense that they can succeed wherever the fight goes. They are also true fighters in the sense that they both have an appetite for causing damage to their opponent.
The result should be a fight that offers the perfect marriage between technique and carnage.
Vera loves to push the issue. His pace and willingness to exchange should be the driving force for the tempo of the fight. However, Sandhagen's length and willingness to get creative with his strikes will create an interesting dynamic.
Sandhagen can be an effective counter-striker, and Vera is going to have to find ways to safely close the distance.
Vera is tough and durable. Sandhagen has only been finished once, and that was a submission.
This one seems destined to go the distance. In that kind of fight, it's easier to favor the busier of the two. Vera's desire to push the pace of the fight and get in Sandhagen's face should give him the edge in a fight that could be up to the judges.
Prediction: Vera via decision
Holm vs. Santos
3 of 4
One would think that Holly Holm might be considering retirement. The 41-year-old is 4-6 since she landed the head-kick knockout of Ronda Rousey that made her famous.
Her split-decision loss to Vieira in last May was her only fight since 2020. Despite all of that evidence pointing to retirement, Holm just signed a new six-fight contract with the UFC.
If Holm wants to get back into the title picture and become relevant again, she has to start stacking wins soon. That starts with a matchup against Santos (formerly Yana Kunitskaya) in San Antonio.
Santos is a strong wrestler who has spent some time at featherweight. She's able to use her size to bully opponents in the clinch and shouldn't be overlooked.
She's at her best when she is fighting like a pressure wrestler who hunts for takedowns, but she doesn't always bring that mentality and isn't a great striker.
That could spell trouble against Holm. The veteran may not have become the superstar that her early career would have indicated, but she is a strong kickboxer who manages the distance well.
Don't expect a clean sweep of rounds, but this feels like it is headed to a unanimous decision.
Prediction: Holm via decision
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Lee vs. Barber
4 of 4
Andrea Lee vs. Maycee Barber is the only other fight on the card between two ranked fighters. It also poses an interesting battle of technique and speed against power and athleticism.
Lee is a strong technical boxer. She can outpoint opponents from range. On the ground, she relies on technique as well. She has a decent submission game and relies on catching her opponent's mistakes.
Barber, on the other hand, has been one of the best athletes in the division since her arrival in the UFC. She has power on the feet and is a strong wrestler. It isn't that she doesn't have technique, it's just not what makes her stand out.
Barber is still a rising talent at just 24 years old, and her consistency has been an issue. However, she's coming off three straight wins and seems to be figuring out how to get better each time she fights.
"KGB" is a tough out, even if she is coming off a loss to Viviane Araújo. She should provide a challenge that makes Barber show growth. But that doesn't appear to be a problem for the rising prospect right now.
Prediction: Barber via decision
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