Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen odds, picks and predictions

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

Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9 a.m. ET.

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UFC on ESPN 43: Vera vs. Sandhagen picks and predictions

Records: Vera (20-7-1) | Sandhagen (15-4-0)

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.

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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