Report – Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen now slated to headline UFC San Antonio on March 25.

Marlon Vera Cory Sandhagen UFC San AntonioInitially booked to take main event honors at UFC Vegas 69 later this month, the bantamweight championship-eliminator between surging contenders, Marlon Vera, and Cory Sandhagen has been upped and relocated to San Antonio, Texas on March 25. next at the AT&T Center – taking main event honors. First booked to headline UFC Vegas 69 on […]

Marlon Vera Cory Sandhagen UFC San Antonio

Initially booked to take main event honors at UFC Vegas 69 later this month, the bantamweight championship-eliminator between surging contenders, Marlon Vera, and Cory Sandhagen has been upped and relocated to San Antonio, Texas on March 25. next at the AT&T Center – taking main event honors.

First booked to headline UFC Vegas 69 on February 18. at the UFC Apex facility, according to an initial report from Sports Illustrated, Ecuadorian finisher, Marlon Vera will now face Colorado technician, Cory Sandhagen in front of a capacity crowd in ‘The Lone Star State’ on March 25. instead. 

Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen has shifted and will now headline #UFCSanAntonio on March 25, multiple sources tell @MikeBohn and me,MMA Junkie reporter, Nolan King tweeted. “First reported by @SINow. Story headed to @MMAJunkie.

At the time of publication, an official headlining event for UFC Vegas 69 on February 18. has yet to be determined. 

Marlon Vera currently rides a stunning four-fight winning streak

In the midst of an impressive run of four-fight winning spree which has seen him land at #4 in the official bantamweight rankings, last time out, Chone native, Vera stopped former two-time bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz with a stunning high kick KO in the main event of UFC San Diego.

Prior to that win, Marlon Vera stopped former undisputed lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar with a front kick knockout at Madison Square Garden, adding to a decision win over Rob Font, and avenging a prior career loss to Davey Grant.

Sitting at #5 in the official bantamweight pile, Sandhagen rebounded from consecutive career losses to former division champions, T.J. Dillashaw, and Petr Yan – with an impressive fourth round doctor’s stoppage TKO win over Song Yadong at UFC Vegas 60 back in September of last year – scoring his fifteenth professional victory. 

UFC Fight Night San Antonio takes place on March 25. from the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Photo – Marlon Vera inks new back tattoo ahead of UFC Vegas 69 headliner with Cory Sandhagen

Marlon Vera back tattoo UFCAhead of his upcoming UFC Vegas 69 main event clash with fellow bantamweight contender, surging division challenger, Marlon Vera has detailed a stunning new back piece tattoo – inked by the world-renowned artist, Mister Cartoon.  Vera, who currently boasts the #5 rank in the official bantamweight pile, is slated to headline UFC Vegas 69 on […]

Marlon Vera back tattoo UFC

Ahead of his upcoming UFC Vegas 69 main event clash with fellow bantamweight contender, surging division challenger, Marlon Vera has detailed a stunning new back piece tattoo – inked by the world-renowned artist, Mister Cartoon. 

Vera, who currently boasts the #5 rank in the official bantamweight pile, is slated to headline UFC Vegas 69 on February 18. next – tackling fellow division contender, Cory Sandhagen in a potential title-eliminator at 135lbs.

In the midst of an impressive run of four-fight winning run, Chone native, Marlon Vera will make his first Octagon walk since he headlined UFC Fight Night San Diego back in August of last year – earning a Performance of the Night bonus off the back of a fourth round high kick KO win over former undisputed champion, Dominick Cruz.

Marlon Vera tackles Cory Sandhagen next month in ‘Sin City’

Matching with Colorado tactician, Sandhagen, Vera will be tasked with returning the Eliot Marshall mainstay to the losing enclosure, following a prior, dominant doctor’s stoppage win over Song Yadong back in September at the UFC Apex facility.

Getting some new ink ahead of his Octagon comeback against Sandhagen in February, Ecuadorian fan-favorite, Vera shared his experience with iconic tattoo artist, Mister Cartoon.

“He tattooed some pretty heavy names back in the day,” Marlon Vera said on The MMA Hour. “Not just big names, big names at their prime. Eminem, when he was blowing up in the whole entire world, Mr. Cartoon did his tattoos. Eminem would say in interviews, ‘I only get tattoo’d by Cartoon because you can’t afford it.’ He would say that in a video to the world and I’m like, ‘Holy sh*t, that guy did my whole entire back.’” 

“It’s a big rooster in the middle that represents the fighting and me growing up going to rooster fights with my grandfather when I was a little kid, and my father,” Marlon Vera explained. “The crazy environment I got to live in. There’s a sign of the town I was born, which is Chone, it says, ‘Welcome to Chone.’ There’s orange trees because it’s called the ‘City of Orange’ where I was born because there’s orange trees everywhere, and there’s a road that goes around my lower back and then you start seeing buildings, a clown mask – which is Cartoon’s speciality – and a oman behind the clown.”

“The clown part is me doing all the crazy sh*t to be where I am,” Vera continued. “The woman in the back is the lady that pushed me to be man I am today. It’s little things like that, and there’s a sign up the street of the first house I bought.”

“Then he just put clouds and lights around the whole thing, that’s kind of what he’s famous for,” Vera said. “Those beautiful f*cking lights coming down, clouds and sh*t. I love it. Ten out of ten back piece.”

Georges St-Pierre’s Coach On Whether He Thinks Cory Sandhagen Is ‘Too Kind’ To Be Elite, Mistakes Made Against Umar Nurmagomedov

Georges St-Pierre’s renowned head coach, Firas Zahabi, recently weighed in on Cory Sandhagen’s performance, suggesting that his lack of elite wrestling skills was a significant factor in his defeat against Umar Nurmagomedov. Sandhagen faced a challenging defeat by a unanimous decision to Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi last Saturday […]

Continue Reading Georges St-Pierre’s Coach On Whether He Thinks Cory Sandhagen Is ‘Too Kind’ To Be Elite, Mistakes Made Against Umar Nurmagomedov at MMA News.

Georges St-Pierre’s renowned head coach, Firas Zahabi, recently weighed in on Cory Sandhagen’s performance, suggesting that his lack of elite wrestling skills was a significant factor in his defeat against Umar Nurmagomedov.

Sandhagen faced a challenging defeat by a unanimous decision to Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi last Saturday at the Etihad Arena, once again putting his bantamweight title aspirations on hold.

Nurmagomedov controlled the fight’s tempo almost entirely, showcasing his trademark mix of rapid, diverse striking and dynamic wrestling. He skillfully maneuvered into dominant positions, contorting “The Sandman” at multiple points throughout the contest. Despite Sandhagen’s impeccable defensive acumen and his ability to escape from tight spots, he couldn’t launch a sustained offense to disrupt the relentless Dagestani.

As the fight wore on, Nurmagomedov steadily widened his lead. Though Sandhagen valiantly attempted to rally, his efforts fell short against the relentless onslaught of his opponent. Nurmagomedov maintained his aggressive pace, and finally, all three judges unanimously scored the bout in his favor.

Before the fight, there was widespread belief that Sandhagen would be outmatched by Nurmagomedov’s superior wrestling and grappling skills, and those predictions came true. According to Zahabi, Sandhagen’s defeat stemmed from straying from his game plan after conceding early takedowns…

Zahabi Believes Sandhagen Could Have Dodged Early Takedown Against Nurmagomedov

During a recent video on Tristar Gym’s YouTube channel, Zahabi dissected the Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov bout. When a fan questioned whether Sandhagen is “too kind in nature to be elite” against opponents with strong wrestling backgrounds, the esteemed MMA coach shot down the notion. Rather, he zeroed in on the issues faced by the American being technical instead of mental, noting that “The Sandman” appeared taken aback by Nurmagomedov’s early takedowns, which significantly impacted his performance.

“I really think what screwed him up, what really turned his game plan upside down was he got taken down so early,” Zahabi said. “He got his back exposed even though he got out of it quickly, it’s like ‘wow, that guy shoots really fast; I wasn’t ready for that.’ It seemed like he was a little bit shocked, and then he got taken down again. Yes, but there were two takedowns I think he gave for free when he kicked the leg. I would have told him don’t kick the leg; it’s not a good idea. And those two takedowns, I think, just added to the dominance of Umar. They could have been easily avoided.”

Zahabi further suggested that Sandhagen could have benefited from attempting more takedowns himself, which might have thrown his opponent off balance.”

“Honestly, I think if you threaten people with your takedowns and you threaten them with striking, you’re kind of creating a dilemma. The guy knows, ‘Hey, I can get taken down; I lose this entire round.’ He’s got to divide his attention. He’s got to be on the lookout for that takedown.”

Prior to this setback, Sandhagen was riding high on a three-fight winning streak, which included impressive victories over former bantamweight title challenger Marlon Vera and Song Yadong.

The American had previously vied for the interim title at UFC 267 in October 2021, where he fought valiantly but ultimately fell short in a grueling five-round battle against Petr Yan.

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UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Odds: Current Favorites For Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov, Vera vs. Figueiredo, Ferguson vs. Chiesa, & More

UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup. The upcoming event takes place on Saturday, August 3, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main card begins at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT, […]

Continue Reading UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Odds: Current Favorites For Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov, Vera vs. Figueiredo, Ferguson vs. Chiesa, & More at MMA News.

UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup.

The upcoming event takes place on Saturday, August 3, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main card begins at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT.

Topping the lineup will be former interim bantamweight title challenger Cory Sandhagen, who is tasked with getting the better of undefeated Dagestani Umar Nurmagomedov if he’s to successfully defend his spot in the top five and stake his claim for shot at the undisputed gold.

Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see another unbeaten name in action as Sharabutdin Magomedov meets Micha? Oleksiejczuk on short notice, while Marlon Vera looks to revive his bantamweight championship ambitions at the expense of ex-flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.

Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of lightweight veteran Tony Ferguson, strawweight submission specialist Mackenzie Dern, and rising light heavyweight contender Azamat Murzakanov.

UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov Betting Odds

Listed below are the latest betting odds for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi (as of 8/2), courtesy of DraftKings.

Main Card:

  • Cory Sandhagen (-270) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (+340)
  • Sharabutdin Magomedov (-238) vs. Micha? Oleksiejczuk (+195)
  • Marlon Vera (+120) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (-142)
  • Tony Ferguson (+440) vs. Michael Chiesa (-600)
  • Mackenzie Dern (-118) vs. Loopy Godinez (-102)
  • Joel Álvarez (-166) vs. Elves Brener (+140)

Preliminary Card:

  • Azamat Murzakanov (-218) vs. Alonzo Menifield (+180)
  • Mohammad Yahya (+310) vs. Kaue Fernandes (-395)
  • Shamil Gaziev (-270) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (+220)
  • Guram Kutateladze (-230) vs. Jordan Vucenic (+190)
  • Victoria Dudakova (-175) vs. Sam Hughes (+145)
  • Jai Herbert (-130) vs. Rolando Berdoya (+110)
  • Sedriques Dumas (-130) vs. Denis Tiuliulin (+190)

Continue Reading UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Odds: Current Favorites For Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov, Vera vs. Figueiredo, Ferguson vs. Chiesa, & More at MMA News.

Cory Sandhagen Dismisses Phobia Surrounding The ‘Nurmagomedov’ Name: ‘No One’s Seen Me Defensively Wrestle!’

Cory Sandhagen recently shrugged off any apprehensions typically linked with the ‘Nurmagomedov’ name in the MMA world as he gears up for his bout against Umar Nurmagomedov. Sandhagen is set to clash with Umar in a high-stakes bantamweight showdown in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi, which is slated to take place […]

Continue Reading Cory Sandhagen Dismisses Phobia Surrounding The ‘Nurmagomedov’ Name: ‘No One’s Seen Me Defensively Wrestle!’ at MMA News.

Cory Sandhagen recently shrugged off any apprehensions typically linked with the ‘Nurmagomedov’ name in the MMA world as he gears up for his bout against Umar Nurmagomedov.

Sandhagen is set to clash with Umar in a high-stakes bantamweight showdown in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi, which is slated to take place this weekend at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, United Arab Emirates.

With divisional champion Sean O’Malley set to defend his title against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 next month, the victor of Saturday night’s bout could end up in line to challenge the winner of that highly anticipated showdown.

Both fighters were initially scheduled to face off at UFC Fight Night Nashville in August 2023. However, Nurmagomedov was forced to withdraw just weeks before the event due to a shoulder injury. Consequently, Sandhagen took on late-replacement Rob Font in a catchweight matchup and emerged victorious.

Umar enters the fight surrounded by considerable hype, thanks to his ties to the legendary Nurmagomedov family. As a cousin of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov and the elder brother of Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, the 28-year-old Dagestani is also renowned for his exceptional grappling and submission skills.

Despite this formidable lineage and the reputation it carries, “The Sandman” remains unfazed by any accompanying stigma…

Sandhagen Brims With Confidence In His Preparation for Umar

In a recent media session leading up to his August 3 fight, Sandhagen offered insights into his matchup with Umar. The former UFC interim title challenger revealed that he has dedicated extensive effort to preparing for this bout and is confident that his hard work will yield significant rewards on fight night.

“I had to work a lot of overtime hours to make sure that I was prepared for this fight,” Sandhagen said. “But yeah, I mean, the rankings, him coming up, the odds, the bettors—I could honestly give a sh*t or less. I’m focused on what I’m going to do on Saturday and that’s executing under the lights, and I can’t wait for that. It’s weird that people are counting me out for this one.”

“The Sandman” further brushed off concerns about Nurmagomedov’s reputation for dominance, emphasizing instead that he matches his opponent’s wrestling prowess.

“No one’s seen me defensively wrestle, almost ever, you know, except for the situation with [Aljamain] Sterling. That’s what we’ll call that loss—a situation. The situation with Sterling was, what, four years ago? I was two years into my career then; I’m six or seven years into my career now, and still no one’s really seen it. So it’s just another element that I get to show to people.”

Sandhagen has long been a fixture among the elite in the UFC’s bantamweight division, fueled by his relentless quest for a title. Currently on a three-fight winning streak, the 32-year-old Colorado native has delivered standout performances against Song Yadong, Marlon Vera, and Rob Font.

Continue Reading Cory Sandhagen Dismisses Phobia Surrounding The ‘Nurmagomedov’ Name: ‘No One’s Seen Me Defensively Wrestle!’ at MMA News.

Umar Nurmagomedov Reacts To Sean O’Malley Predicting He’d Withdraw From UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Return: ‘They Hope I Will Pull Out’ 

UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov believes he knows the reason behind Sean O’Malley’s recent remarks. Nurmagomedov, who currently occupies the #10 spot at 135 pounds, is in Abu Dhabi this week ahead of a major assignment. The undefeated Dagestani will feature in his maiden UFC main event opposite a top-five contender and former interim title […]

Continue Reading Umar Nurmagomedov Reacts To Sean O’Malley Predicting He’d Withdraw From UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Return: ‘They Hope I Will Pull Out’  at MMA News.

UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov believes he knows the reason behind Sean O’Malley’s recent remarks.

Nurmagomedov, who currently occupies the #10 spot at 135 pounds, is in Abu Dhabi this week ahead of a major assignment. The undefeated Dagestani will feature in his maiden UFC main event opposite a top-five contender and former interim title challenger in Cory Sandhagen.

The pair were originally set to collide in Nashville last August, but a dislocated shoulder in training forced Nurmagomedov out. While “The Sandman” defeated replacement opponent Rob Font before heading for surgery to repair a torn tricep, the Russian escaped a scare in his successful return opposite debutant Bekzat Almakhan this past March.

Nurmagomedov will now face a major step up in competition in his pursuit of O’Malley’s gold, and the champion appears to have one eye on the highly touted contender’s rise. Most recently, “Sugar” predicted that the 28-year-old would likely withdraw from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in the Middle East.

“I’ll tune in…if it happens,” O’Malley told MMA Fighting. “We know Umar likes to pull out if something happens. I’ll be surprised if the fight happens.”

Nurmagomedov: O’Malley ‘Praying’ I Don’t Earn A Title Shot

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Nurmagomedov looked ahead to the biggest fight of his blossoming UFC career thus far.

The Dagestani confirmed he’s been assured that a victory over Sandhagen will put him next in line for a championship opportunity, facing the winner of O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili’s upcoming Sphere showdown.

Nurmagomedov is sure that neither man wants to face him, and he used the champ’s prediction that he’ll withdraw from the August 3 event as evidence.

“I think they pray,” Nurmagomedov said. “They hope I will pull out and will not take this opportunity to fight for the title. They wish this.

“For me it doesn’t matter who wins (out of O’Malley and Dvalishvili). It’s a very hard fight for both,” Nurmagomedov continued. “One is a wrestling, one is a striker weight height. He is tall. Stylistically, for me, personally it’s very difficult to say who is going to win. I don’t know.”

Having made it to fight week for his rearranged battle with “The Sandman,” Nurmagomedov will look to complete the walk this Saturday at Etihad Arena and have his hand raised for his sixth Octagon triumph.

And should he impress, the Russian looks set to have the opportunity to become the UFC”s latest American Kickboxing Academy standout and Nurmagomedov to win gold.

Continue Reading Umar Nurmagomedov Reacts To Sean O’Malley Predicting He’d Withdraw From UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Return: ‘They Hope I Will Pull Out’  at MMA News.