In a bantamweight bout in the main event, Marlon Vera and Cory Sandhagen meet at UFC on ESPN 43 at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ESPN 43: Vera vs. Sandhagen odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
The fights are on ESPN/ESPN+, with the prelims beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET. The main card, also on ESPN/ESPN+, begin at 7 p.m. ET.
Vera takes the walk with 4 consecutive victories under his belt, including a 4th-round KO/TKO of Dominick Cruz last time out in the main event Aug. 13. He has won 2 of his past 3 fights via KO/TKO, also dropping Frankie Edgar at UFC 268.
The Ecuadoran fighter hasn’t had a submission win since July 2019 against Nohelin Hernandez at UFC 239. He is still decent in takedown accuracy at 42.31%, while posting a 1.05 submission average, but lately that hasn’t been his game.
Vera has used his punching power and accuracy for deafening blows instead, winning 6 times via KO/TKO in the past 12 fights since Aug. 4, 2019.
For Sandhagen, he stopped Song Yadong via TKO-Doctor’s Stoppage last time out in the main event in mid-Sept. 2022. That stopped a 2-bout losing skid, losing via unanimous decision to Petr Yan for the strap at UFC 267, and falling via split-decision to TJ Dillashaw in July 2021.
The two decision losses were the only non-stoppage bouts in the past 6 outings for Sandhagen. He hasn’t won via decision since Aug. 17, 2019, a unanimous-decision win over Raphael Assuncao at UFC 241.
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UFC on ESPN 43: Vera vs. Sandhagen odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9 a.m. ET.
- Fight result (2-way line): Vera +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Sandhagen -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Over/Under: 4.5 rounds (Over -160 | Under +125)
- Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -140 | No +100)
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UFC on ESPN 43: Vera vs. Sandhagen picks and predictions
Records: Vera (20-7-1) | Sandhagen (15-4-0)
Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)
This is going to be a fun fight, as both fighters can win in a multitude of ways. Sandhagen holds a 6.15-to-4.28 significant strikes landed per minute advantage, although Vera is a little more accurate.
As long as Sandhagen can keep this one upright, and use his punching power to get ahead, he’ll win via KO/TKO, or do enough to wow the judges on points. If Vera can get it to the mat and use his wrestling skillset, it could go the other way.
I like the favorite SANDHAGEN (-155), though, straight on the 2-way line. This could have fight of the night written all over it, with plenty of blood.
Over/Under (O/U)
Neither of these fighters really like to leave it up to the decision of the judges, as both fighters have rolled up some solid KO/TKO wins of late.
However, I think both of these guys are smart, and both will be rather measured, respecting the other’s punching ability. SANDHAGEN BY POINTS (+127) is still a pretty good value a plus-money.
As such, YES (-140): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE is also a good play, especially if you just want to be entertained, and don’t want to declare a winner.
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