Marlon Vera vs Cory Sandhagen 3/25/2023 Picks, Previews and Tips
A highly anticipated bantamweight showdown between Marlon “Chito” Vera and Cory Sandhagen is set to take place on March 25 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, headlining a five-round UFC Fight Night event. This bout has been eagerly awaited by fans and analysts alike, as both fighters are in the top echelon of their division and a win could inch them closer to a title shot.
Currently ranked third in the bantamweight division, Vera will have a chance to cement his place as a top contender with a victory over Sandhagen. However, the fifth-ranked Sandhagen is a slight favorite at -160 and will be looking to make a statement by defeating the talented Vera and elevating his status as one of the best in the division. The prelim fights begin at 4 p.m. ET, with the main card kicking off at 8 p.m. This promises to be one of the most exciting fights of the year, so fight fans won’t want to miss it.
Although both Marlon “Chito” Vera and Cory Sandhagen have 70-inch reaches, Sandhagen has the advantage of height and a more fluid striking style. The 29-year-old fighter’s spinning strikes are particularly dangerous, but his most impressive attribute is his movement and ability to unleash a flurry of strikes before swiftly evading his opponent’s counterattack. While it may be difficult for Vera to find an opening to finish the fight, as he did with his knockout of Dominick Cruz, it is certainly within the realm of possibility.
Sandhagen, however, will not be able to rely on a knockout victory against Vera, who has an iron chin and is renowned for his durability. Therefore, Sandhagen must rely on his ability to outscore Vera by consistently landing strikes while avoiding any potential high kicks or calf attacks. Both fighters are known for their endurance, so the five-round pace should not be an issue. Nonetheless, Sandhagen would be wise to come out aggressively and establish an early lead on the scorecards.
Marlon Vera vs Cory Sandhagen 3/25/2023 Picks, Previews and Tips
Marlon “Chito” Vera is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC today, thanks to his chin, defense, and power. His previous victory over Dominick Cruz at UFC San Diego is a prime example of how he can capitalize on these attributes to win. Cruz, who is similar in style to Vera’s upcoming opponent Cory Sandhagen, is a master of evasion, constantly moving and bobbing his head. This made it difficult for Vera to land significant strikes, and he was trailing on the scorecards after three rounds. However, Vera’s patience paid off when he unleashed a devastating head kick that broke Cruz’s nose and sent him to the canvas, earning the win.
On Saturday, Vera will need to be equally patient and strategic in his approach to Sandhagen, who is known for his fluid and risky striking style. Although Vera is expected to have little difficulty defending against Sandhagen’s strikes, the more creative fighter may have an advantage in a point fight. If Vera is to win this bout, it will likely be by knockout, requiring him to carefully pick his moments to strike and unleash his formidable power.
Marlon Vera vs Cory Sandhagen. The UFC pick for this bout is Cory Sandhagen. This matchup is shaping up to be an absolute barnburner. Although Sandhagen is currently favored to win, the odds should be much closer to even in my opinion. My analysis assumes that the fight will go the distance, although the odds for this have yet to be determined. Sandhagen has already proven himself capable of fighting a full 25 minutes, as two of his last three fights have gone the distance, and his most recent fight with Song Yadong would likely have gone the distance if not for a doctor’s intervention. Vera, on the other hand, has only finished one of his last six fights via knockout, going to a decision in four of them.
Taking all of this into account, I’m officially picking Sandhagen to win by decision at odds of -160, with the fight going the distance. Sandhagen’s high activity level should give him an edge in scoring points, although Vera’s ability to land a devastating knockout at any moment cannot be ignored. Fans should approach this matchup with caution, as anything could happen when these two bantamweight contenders step into the Octagon.
Pick: Sandhagen to win (-160); Fight To go the distance (TBD); Value play on Sandhagen by decision (TBD)
Venue: AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas
Date: March 25, 2023
Time: Preliminary bouts starts at 4 PM ET
Main Card at 8 PM
