Marlon Vera vs Cory Sandhagen 3/25/23 – Marlon “Chito” Vera and Cory “The Sandman” Sandhagen’s bantamweight fight was originally scheduled for UFC Apex in Vegas, where only a few hundred spectators could watch it up close. But after an outcry on social media, the UFC decided to reschedule the event and move it to Texas instead. UFC betting odds have already posted odds for this fight that promises to rock the bantamweight rankings.
Marlon Vera vs Cory Sandhagen
Date & Time: Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 6:00 PM ET
Location: AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
TV: ESPN+
Marlon Vera vs Cory Sandhagen Betting Odds
Vera
Moneyline: +140
Sandhagen
Moneyline: -160
Marlon Vera vs Cory Sandhagen Analysis
Marlon Vera (20-7-1), is the man with the most finishes in UFC Bantamweight history with 10. His record includes 16 victories by finish, 8 by knockout/TKO and 8 via submission. Vera has never lost a fight before the final bell, with all seven of his defeats coming via decision. With such an impressive resume, Vera should be considered one of the finest UFC fighters of the last decade. What’s so remarkable is that Vera never had a shot at winning the title. That could change if he beats Sandhagen on Saturday. Vera currently ranks No. 3, though that could change with any luck should Vera beat Sandhagen on Saturday morning. Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili are currently ranked higher than him in the divisional rankings, but either could potentially challenge Aljo Sterling for his title if Dvalishvili beats O’Malley later this year. But Dvalishvili has repeatedly stated that he has no intention of fighting his friend Sterling; should that change, then perhaps Vera or Sandhagen will step in as interim champions.
Cory Sandhagen has an impressive 15-4 record, but none of his losses have left him feeling embarrassed. The first came in 2017 when Jamall Emmers beat him by decision at LFA 5; later, Aljamain Sterling defeated him at UFC 1 – ultimately leading to Sterling’s victory as Bantamweight champion. That bout remains Sandhagen’s only defeat inside of one round – Aljo beat him by submission in 2020. One year later, The Sandman suffered his third loss of the career; it came via a controversial split decision against T.J. Dillashaw. A few months after that, The Sandman experienced yet another setback when Aljo withdrew and Sandhagen was given only five days’ notice for a title fight with Petr Yan after Aljo’s withdrawal. Despite staying on his feet until the final bell, judges ultimately scored in favor of The Sandman.
Marlon Vera vs Cory Sandhagen Stats
| Vera | Sanhagen | |
| Wins/Losses/Draws | 20-7-1 | 15-4-0 |
| Average Fight Time | 12:11 | 11:29 |
| Height | 5′ 8″ | 5′ 11″ |
| Weight | 135 lbs. | 135 lbs. |
| Reach | 70″ | 70″ |
| Stance | Switch | Switch |
| Strikes Landed per Min. | 4.28 | 6.15 |
| Striking Accuracy | 50% | 44% |
| Strikes Absorbed per Min. | 5.01 | 4.21 |
| Defense | 51% | 56% |
| Takedowns Average/15 min. | 0.68 | 0.71 |
| Takedown Accuracy | 42% | 20% |
| Takedown Defense | 68% | 63% |
| Submission Average/15 min. | 1.1 | 0.4 |
Marlon Vera vs Cory Sandhagen Free Pick
Marlon Vera may be an underdog, but the bookies might be wrong. This guy has never been stopped inside the distance and UFC online experts expect Cory Sandhagen to try either. Instead, Vera could go for a win by decision – whether that works or not remains to be seen. Vera could surprise everyone on Saturday.
Free Pick: Marlon Vera +140
