UFC Fight Night: Vera vs Sandhagen preview and predictions
1) Marlon Vera vs Cory Sandhagen
This Saturday's main event is set to be an absolute war. Vera is currently on a tear in this bantamweight division as he currently sits at number three ranked in the division. He’s coming off legend killer performances by stopping Frankie Edgar and Dominick Cruz in devastating fashion. With his lengthy body style and crisp striking “Chito” has managed to finish his opponents in 80% of his fights. However, on Saturday he faces, in my opinion, his toughest opponent to date. Sandhagen hasn’t had the best 18 months in the UFC going 1-2 in his last three with a doctor's stoppage win against Yandong Song, being controlled against Petr Yan and a razor thin split decision loss to TJ Dillashaw. However, I believe he hasn’t lost his touch and is still one of the best strikers in the division with KO victories over Edgar and Marlon Moraes. I believe this fight will be a striking clinic. “Chito” will need to watch himself in the first round as that is where Corey is most dangerous with 6 of his finishes coming from the first round. If Chito does wear Sandhagen down throughout the five-round fight, I believe he will be able to get him to the ground and implement his strong Jiu-jitsu game where he has 8 victories coming via submission.
Fight prediction: Vera via 4th round TKO
2) Holly Holm vs Yana Santos
Ranked number 3 in the women's bantamweight division, Holm is on a three fight winning streak with wins over Keitlin Viera, Irene Aldana and Raquel Pennington all coming via decision. Holm is best known for her striking abilities, using her crisp boxing to set up head kick attacks. This was most famously used with her KO victory over Ronda Rousey. On Saturday she will face number 6 ranked Santos. She has had a very up and down road up to this time. With wins over Viera and Stoliarenko, however losing to more experienced fighter such as Aspen Ladd and Aldana. Santos’ key to victory would be to stay out of range with Holm and to pick her shots wisely, she also has a striking accuracy of 57% therefore is used to out striking her opponents. However, I believe that even though Holms best days are past her, Santos won’t be too much of a challenge for her and after this fight she can go on to a bigger fight, potentially to be the number one contender.
Fight prediction: Holm via Unanimous decision
3) Alex Perez vs Manel Kape
Number 6 ranked flyweight Perez hasn’t won a fight in the last three years with his last two fights ending in him losing via first round submission against at the time champion Figueiredo and current number one contender Alexandre Pantoja. However, before then he had notable victories over the likes of Jussier Formiga and Jordan Espinosa via first round stoppage. Perez is usually quick of the mark with ten first round finishes and his average fight lasting five minutes and forty-eight seconds. His key to victory would be using his 44% takedown accuracy to get Kape to the ground and managing to submit him early. Number 6 ranked fighter Kape came into the with high expectations as he was the Rizin flyweight champion. However, things did not go to plan. In his first fight he lost a decision to Pantoja and then would go on to lose a close fight against Matheus Nicolau via split decision. Since then, Kape is riding on a three-fight win streak with TKO victories over Ode Osbourne and Zhalgas Zhumagulov and last fight a unanimous decision victory over Dvorak. Kape’s key to victory is to keep the fight on the feet and finish Perez on the feet like he has done in 65% of his fights.
Prediction: Kape via first round TKO