UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen employees picks and predictions: Chito will get the nod

The UFC is in Texas this week with a battle card that has a fantastic most important occasion. Reside on ESPN Marlon Vera and Cory Sandhagen will go at it hoping to get their title into the UFC bantamweight title image.

The rest of the cardboard is usually Contender Sequence groomed expertise. There’s Holly Holm versus Yana Santos within the co-main, however sadly the UFC is absolutely going to make the followers in San Antonio wait by means of a variety of fights with folks their not aware of earlier than the principle occasion begins.

As all the time, our employees has gone over the bouts and picked who they assume will win. In what seems like an in depth battle, we’re surprisingly leaning closely in a single route. Most our employees if selecting ‘Chito’ Vera to get by means of Sandhagen and arrange a conflict with one other elite of the division.

Within the co-main we’re largely siding with ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’. Whereas all of us respect Holm’s accomplishments and expertise, there’s a minority who thinks that, with Father Time being undefeated, the 41-year-old would possibly battle right here.

You’ll be able to see who else we picked to win fights on the principle card under. Our full picks, together with the prelims, can be found on Substack. Substack is the place we’re funding the transition to The New Bloody Elbow, so your $5 there’ll go a good distance in the direction of conserving our website on-line and impartial (and it’ll additionally assist ensure I maintain my job).

Substack subscribers may also take part within the BE Group Picks contest. Subscribers get a survey into their inboxes every week the place they will make their picks. I share these in an article like this. The group member with essentially the most appropriate picks on the finish of the 12 months wins a brilliant duper secret prize.

So when you haven’t joined the workforce on Substack already, please take into account approaching over. We’ve acquired a variety of neat issues deliberate over there.

Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen

Anton Tabuena: Sandhagen must be the extra technical fighter from vary, and he additionally has much better quantity and output that may seemingly make him take not less than a few rounds on the scorecards. The most important difficulty he must take care of right here, is that he’ll actually need to get Vera to respect his energy strikes. If he does, he’ll get his feints and set ups going and sure cruise to victory, but when not, it’ll be a a lot more durable battle with Vera making an attempt to stroll him down and land fewer however larger pictures. I’m going with Sandhagen, as a result of even in that latter situation the place he fights Vera’s kind of battle, I nonetheless assume he’s adequate to discover a solution to win. Cory Sandhagen by way of resolution.

Tim Bissell: On paper we see that Vera is six % extra correct together with his putting and Sandhagen is 5 % higher together with his putting protection. Sandhagen has landed a bit of greater than Vera, however I’m extra swayed by what we see of their grappling numbers. Sandhagen has only a 20% success charge on his takedowns. Vera has greater than twice that. Vera additionally has marginally higher takedown protection. So I feel this will likely be a really shut battle with neither fighter in a position to get the opposite one out of there. Over 5 rounds, I like Vera’s skill to pressure Sandhagen to battle at his tempo after which use wrestling as his back-up to regulate the place the fights takes place, and get a breather, between flashy flurries. I feel this can result in an in depth resolution on the playing cards. Marlon Vera by way of resolution.

Victor Rodriguez: Actually hate that any individual gotta lose right here. Sandhagen will definitely be measured and has his cardio on level, and so does Vera. He’s acquired an informed jab, and so does Vera. And therein lies the issue, as a result of Vera jogs my memory a little bit of Max Holloway in a few of his offensive spurts. Vera creates alternatives behind the jab and works counters with physique pictures in a approach that might give Sandhagen suits. And I’ve no expectation in anyway that we’ll see a lot on the bottom as that is going to be a shootout on the toes. Marlon Vera by resolution.

Tim Burke: The percentages are a bit of wider on this than I believed, with Sandhagen within the -175 vary. I see it as loads nearer to that, and Vera has the facility to complete it plus the quantity to win rounds – and he seemingly received’t get taken down. Marlon Vera by resolution.

Zane Simon: There’s a excellent likelihood that Marlon Vera can damage Sandhagen badly sufficient in sufficient rounds to steal the entire thing, however given how insanely sturdy each of each males and the way good Sandhagen is at staying rangy and inventive, and the way prepared Vera is to take a seat and watch for singular moments of dynamic offense, I really feel just like the almost definitely end result right here is we get one thing just like the Rob Font battle however with out so many huge notable moments of Vera offense. Basically, the sort of battle Sandhagen wins. Cory Sandhagen by resolution.

Stephie Haynes: Sandhagen has a sensational kicking sport and does nice work at vary when he’s not making an attempt spinning shit and has excellent physique work, particularly working the fitting aspect with pictures to the ribs and liver. Drawback is, Vera is artful and insanely sturdy. He’s additionally acquired a gnarly kicking sport and is a artful opportunist who makes essentially the most of each opening. I’m not supremely assured on this choose, however I’m swayed sufficient by Chito’s newest performances to offer him the nod. Vera by resolution.

Workers selecting Vera: Chris, Kristen,Lucas, Eddie, Victor, Bissell, Tim, Dayne, Stephie
Workers selecting Sandhagen: Anton, Zane

Holly Holm vs. Yana Santos

Anton Tabuena: I’m actually glad this isn’t a 5 spherical battle, because it has the potential to be very ugly. I’m going with the upset. I’m not too excessive on Santos, however Holm’s type hasn’t been terribly efficient nor has she proven a lot modifications and enhancements lately. If something, issues are more likely to worsen with regards to physicality and response time, as Holm is already 41. Yana Santos by way of resolution.

Victor Rodriguez: Age however, I don’t imagine Yana has the output nor technical ability to beat this. Holm continues to be sturdy, efficient, and affected person sufficient to outwork Santos. Plus, she’s acquired method and protection on a stage that I don’t see Santos on. I don’t like dumping on her like this, however there’s ranges. And with that, Yana simply isn’t there. Holly Holm by resolution.

Tim Bissell: Not trying ahead to this one. It seems like this will likely be a really tepid kickboxing battle with little touchdown. If that’s what occurs, I favour Santos’ skill to vary the dynamic of the battle by holding Holm in opposition to the fence of on the mat for lengthy, and boring, durations of the battle. I don’t know if Holm nonetheless has it in her to pepper foes at distance for quarter-hour with out getting trapped. At 41 that’s a tricky ask for anybody within the UFC. Yana Santos by way of resolution

Tim Burke: I doubt both fighter does a lot of something. Holly Holm by resolution

Zane Simon: Santos has by no means been a really comfy vary striker. The commentary sales space was pumping up her enhancements there final day out, and whereas she appeared okay for a second when she and Aldana had been each figuring issues out, the second she began getting cracked she instantly fell into the clinch. Holm could also be older, slower, and fewer dynamic than ever, however she nonetheless has the power to wall-n-stall like a champ. Holly Holm by resolution.

Stephie Haynes: I’m with Tim Burke. That is gonna be an unsightly battle to observe. I’m calling it early, beer run battle of the evening. Holm by resolution.

Workers selecting Holm: Kristen, Lucas, Eddie, Victor, Zane, Dayne, Tim, Stephie
Workers selecting Santos: Chris, Anton, Bissell

Nate Landwehr vs. Austin Lingo

Victor Rodriguez: Nah, man. Lingo’s powerful, however Nate is a unique sort of powerful and doesn’t cease transferring ahead as soon as he senses a chance. Nate Landwehr by TKO.

Zane Simon: This truly seems like a reasonably unhealthy battle for Landwehr to take. Not that he’s not sooner and stronger than Lingo, or only a extra well-rounded fighter, however Landwehr likes to brawl and Lingo’s nothing if not a single-minded puncher with heavy arms. The sort of battle Landwehr ought to win each time however would possibly simply lose 25% of the time. I’ll choose Landwehr to take it, simply because I feel Lingo operates greatest when he can stress and Landwehr ought to push ahead and meet him within the clinch to gradual him down. However a Lingo upset KO wouldn’t shock. Nate Landwehr by resolution.

Workers selecting Landwehr: Chris, Kristen, Eddie, Anton, Victor, Tim, Zane, Dayne, Stephie
Workers selecting Lingo: Lucas, Bissell

Andrea Lee vs. Maycee Barber

Victor Rodriguez: Maycee’s solely losses have been to Roxy Modafferi, who had a large expertise edge over her, and Alexa Grasso, the present champ. These are good losses to have. She might have truly made enhancements to her sport to transcend to a better stage, and this can be a good take a look at for that. Alternatively, Lee might need peaked and presents a unique set of issues together with her vary sport and leg kicks. Barber must be the favourite so long as she doesn’t get sloppy, and I anticipate her to have some moments the place she does. So long as she stays disciplined and doesn’t have too many mind farts, she ought to be capable to overpower and overwhelm Lee in some spots to earn a victory. Maycee Barber by resolution.

Tim Bissell: Andrea Lee has been far too inconsistent each in her UFC and Invicta careers to select her in opposition to somebody who has been fairly reliably good thus far within the Octagon. Her losses are to Roxanne Modafferi (largely as a result of damage) and Alexa Grasso. So I feel she’s a lower above Lee within the division, who has struggled in opposition to aggressive fighters like Barber previously. Maycee Barber by way of resolution.

Zane Simon: Watching tape for this battle, it seems like there’s no cause Lee can’t take this wherever it goes. She’s a a lot cleaner striker, a way more correct clinch striker, and a extra technical grappler. She will even hit some fairly good takedowns. However, she doesn’t reply effectively to stress and by no means has. To the purpose that just about any opponent that comes ahead and will get bodily together with her finds her making larger and greater errors and because the battle goes on. Barber is nothing if not relentless. Maycee Barber by TKO, spherical 3.

Workers selecting Lee: Tim, Dayne
Workers selecting Barber: Chris, Kristen, Lucas, Eddie, Anton, Bissell, Victor, Zane, Stephie

Alex Perez vs. Manel Kape

Victor Rodriguez: Kape had some changes to make after his UFC arrival, and it looks like he’s locked in to the place he was again in his RIZIN days. Alex is hard, well-rounded, and excellent. Kape is simply extra dynamic and packs loopy energy together with his pictures to vary the tune of any battle he’s in. Manel Kape by resolution.

Tim Bissell: It lastly appears to be taking place for Kape, however I nonetheless have doubts we’re going to ever see him attain the heights within the UFC that he did over in RIZIN. Towards Perez, I worry he’s going to get uncovered as one-dimensional. Perez has nice protection on the toes, so I feel he’ll be capable to make the battle go the gap. Over the lengthy haul, I feel Perez goes to determine Kape and take him down off his putting assaults. On the bottom he would possibly catch a sub, however even with out that, I feel he’ll be good for a choice win right here. Alex Perez by way of resolution

Zane Simon: On the highest ranges of the game, Alex Perez has an issue. His excessive stress, lively wrestle-boxing type appears tailor made for fulfillment at any stage, however he’s so insistent with it, that he freely walks himself into heavy offense from the bounce in fights. Not solely that, however when issues begin to go a bit of flawed for Perez, they have an inclination to spiral uncontrolled in a rush. Basically, he’s a entrance runner. When he may be the bully and keep the bully, he’ll run by means of even excellent opponents. However top-level athletes who don’t break simply will all the time get huge possibilities to harm him. And when these have come up, he will get completed. Kape doesn’t all the time throw sufficient, and doesn’t all the time make the most effective technical defensive reads. However he’s sturdy as hell and is an incredible opportunist—and a bodily phenom besides. Manel Kape by way of KO, spherical 1.

Workers selecting Perez: Chris, Bissell
Workers selecting Kape: Kristen, Lucas, Eddie, Anton, Victor, Tim, Zane, Dayne, Stephie

Chidi Njokuani vs. Albert Duraev

Victor Rodriguez: Duraev can take it and is so uncomfortable to face together with his wrestling and clinches, however I can’t choose in opposition to Chidi right here, man. Simply working off vibes. Chidi Njokuani by TKO.

Tim Bissell: Njokuani’s not unhealthy at avoiding the takedown and at this stage of competitors, I feel that’s sufficient to stifle his opponent lengthy sufficient to land one thing huge. Chidi Njokuani by way of KO

Zane Simon: The type conflict right here ought to completely favor Duraev. Njokuani’s by no means been inconceivable to take down, and has a nasty behavior of making an attempt to grapple from guard which means devoted wrestlers can rack up management time. However Duraev’s putting is so absolutely disconnected from his grappling sport that it usually takes him complete rounds to arrange a takedown entry. And as soon as he shoots, it’s often so telegraphed that any opponent with energy can crack him shockingly onerous on the way in which in. Njokuani has that energy. Chidi Njokuani by way of KO, spherical 2.

Workers selecting Njokuani: Kristen, Lucas, Eddie, Anton, Bissell, Victor, Zane, Dayne, Stephie
Workers selecting Duraev: Chris, Tim

Chief board

Zane and Anton went 10-5 final week to place stress on Dayne and Eddie on the prime of the desk. Dayne did achieve a choose on Eddie final time, too, so his lead on the prime is now three picks. Dayne has truly lead the standings each week thus far.

In regards to the writer: Tim Bissell is a author, editor and deputy website supervisor for Bloody Elbow. He has coated fight sports activities since 2015. Tim covers information and occasions and has additionally written longform and investigative items. (full bio)

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