Top-five Bantamweights Marlon Vera and Cory Sandhagen headline UFC on ESPN 43 in a bout that has the potential to propel the winner toward a title fight. UFC on ESPN 43 will be held at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, United States, and is available on ESPN / ESPN+ and the UFC Fight Pass. The fighters have an arduous task to follow after the exciting main event of UFC 286 between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman. Although both fighters are the same age, Marlon Vera has nearly thirty professional fights, while Cory Sandhagen is set to fight for the twentieth time professionally.
Bet on Marlon Vera vs Cory Sandhagen with 1xBetMMA: UFC Bantamweight
Venue: AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, United States
Where to watch: ESPN / ESPN+
Date: 26.3.2023, 05:00
Marlon Vera
Ecuadorian fighter Marlon Vera debuted in the UFC in 2014. After a shaky start with two losses in three fights, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu has steadily climbed up the Bantamweight rankings and now sits at number three. He comes into the matchup on a four-fight win streak, defeating Dominick Cruz and Rob Font in his last two fights. His most recent loss was a 2020 decision against José Aldo. The 30-year-old has picked up two Performance of the Night bonus awards in his last three fights and one Fight of the Night award. Last August, he knocked out the former two-time UFC Bantamweight champion, Cruz, in the fourth round.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 30
- Height: 5’ 8”
- Reach: 70.5”
- Record: 20-7, 1 draw
Cory Sandhagen
Currently number five in the UFC Bantamweight rankings, American Cory Sandhagen contested for the interim UFC Bantamweight title in October 2021 and lost to Petr Yan. He is 1-2 in his last three fights in July 2021. But to his credit, his losses have come against T.J Dillashaw and Petr Yan. Last October, he defeated Song Yadong via a TKO (doctor’s stoppage) to set himself up against the number three-ranked fighter. The “Sandman” is thirty years old and was a former Kickboxing champion at WKA.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 30
- Height: 5’ 11”
- Reach: 69.5”
- Record: 15-4
Betting odds
Marlon Vera is the underdog at 2.39 odds to win on 1xbet. The favorite, Cory Sandhagen, is priced at 1.59 odds. On Bet365, Sandhagen is priced to win at 1.62 odds, with Vera at 2.30 odds. Betting on Will the specified round (5) start - yes is priced at 1.65 odds on Coinplay.