UFC Fight Night: Vera Vs. Sandhagen: Preview And Where To Watch Info
For the first time since 2019, the UFC will return to San Antonio tonight (March 25th) with an exciting series of bouts, headlined by a bantamweight matchup between Marlon “Chito” Vera and Cory Sandhagen.
Under the lights of the AT&T Center, these top 5 ranked 135-pounders are set to square off in a main event that has the MMA world absolutely buzzing in anticipation.
Ranked third in the division, Vera (22-7-1) is currently on a four fight win streak, and achieved his most recent victory over the former two-time UFC champion Dominick Cruz back in August. Despite a minor setback in 2020 versus Jose Aldo, Vera has continued to prove himself as a top contender in the division, and with a win over Sandhagen he could very well continue his journey to a shot at the 135-pound title.
Marlon Vera est DANGEREUX 😳 pic.twitter.com/ynhkUCVCyk
— La Sueur (@LaSueur_off) March 20, 2023
Sandhagen (15-4) has faced more recent setbacks in his UFC tenure, coming up short in decisions versus T.J. Dillashaw and Petr Yan in 2021, but he then bounced back with a TKO victory over Song Yadong in their main event fight back in September. Prior to his aforementioned losses, Sanghagen achieved extravagant knockouts, first with a perfectly placed wheel kick on Marlon Moraes in 2020, followed by a first round flying knee knockout of the veteran Frankie Edgar in February 2021.
CORY SANDHAGEN WITH THE KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR @SpinninBackfist
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 7, 2021
These high-level technical strikers being paired up in a bout makes for an excellent main event, in which the possibilities are endless. Vera will have to look out for the explosiveness of his opponent, whereas the tactics and pressure of “Chito” could put Sandhagen in a situation that his skill set is unable to be fully utilized.
Fired up after faceoffs 🔥@ChitoVeraUFC vs @CorySandhagen TOMORROW at #UFCSanAntonio
[ Prelims 4:30pmET | Main Card 7pmET | LIVE on @ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/Y1RzcB2Hkq
— UFC (@ufc) March 24, 2023
The co-main event of the evening will pit Internation Boxing Hall of Famer, and former UFC women’s bantamweight champion, Holly Holm (16-6) against the Yana Santos (14-6), who is currently ranked at number six in the 135-pound division.
Throwing down in our #UFCSanAntonio co-main!@HollyHolm and @YanaKunitskaya1 collide tomorrow night 👊
[ Prelims 4:30pmET | Main Card 7pmET | LIVE on @ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/2H9BoYol7P
— UFC (@ufc) March 24, 2023
Main Card
- Marlon Vera (22-7-1) vs. Cory Sandhagen (15-4) – Bantamweight
- Holly Holm (14-6) vs. Yana Santos (14-6) – Bantamweight
- Nate Landwehr (16-4) vs. Austin Lingo (9-1) – Featherweight
- Andrea Lee (13-6) vs. Maycee Barber (11-2) – Flyweight
- Alex Perez (24-7) vs. Manel Kape (18-6) – Flyweight
- Chidi Njokuani (22-8) vs. Albert Duraev (15-4) – Middleweight
Preliminary Card
- Daniel Pineda (27-14) vs. Tucker Lutz (12-2) – Featherweight
- Steven Peterson (19-10) vs. Lucas Alexander (7-3) – Featherweight
- Trevin Giles (15-4) vs. Preston Parsons (10-3) – Welterweight
- CJ Vergara (10-4-1) vs. Daniel da Silva (11-4) – Flyweight
- Vinicius Salvador (14-4) vs. Victor Altamirano (11-2) – Flyweight
Where and When
UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Sandhagen, in San Antonio, kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass with the five fight preliminary card.
Following, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on ESPN+, the main card will get started, and will conclude with the bantamweight main event after a four fight undercard.