Bantamweight contenders Cory Sandhagen (12-1, 4 KOs, 3 SUBs) and Aljamain Sterling (18-3, 2 KOs, 7 SUBs) will meet at UFC 250 on Saturday, June 6, 2020 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The vacant bantamweight title might not be up for grabs when Aljamain Sterling meets Cory Sandhagen this Saturday, but both fighters know that the strap is most definitely at stake.
With Henry Cejudo hanging up the gloves, the UFC is still trying to figure out who will fight for the 135-pound belt. There are a number of qualified contenders, from No. 1 contender Marlon Moraes to former 145-pound king Jose Aldo. Petyr Yan is lurking and ready to bang. Both Sterling and Sandhagen are right there too. An impressive performance here could give either man the momentum they need to force the issue.
Sterling comes into the matchup with four straight wins, most earning statement victories over Jimmie Rivera and Pedro Munhoz. After a rocky two-year run in 2016-2017, the 30-year old is fighting at his peak. His last loss came to Moraes in 2017, and “Funk Master” has more than made up for it since then.
Sandhagen has won seven in a row - a streak that includes five UFC appearances. Like Sterling, Sandhagen has really come on strong in his last two, beating contenders in John Lineker and Raphael Assuncao. The 28-year old was set to welcome Frankie Edgar to 135 pounds, opening as a heavy favorite before The Answer pulled out to face The Korean Zombie instead.
This should be a fun, fast-paced matchup. Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down the money lines, round totals, prop bets and more. Live UFC betting at the online sportsbook also lets you bet on real-time odds updates during the fight.
UFC Odds at BookMaker.eu
Aljamain Sterling -125
Cory Sandhagen -105
Fight goes/doesn’t go to decision: -200 / +158
Significant Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Sterling 4.85 / Sandhagen 7.14
Striking accuracy: Sterling 50% / Sandhagen 48%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Sterling 1.95 / Sandhagen 4.16
Striking defense: Sterling 66% / Sandhagen 58%
Grappling Stats
Takedowns landed per 15 minutes: Sterling 1.91 / Sandhagen 1.24
Takedown accuracy: Sterling 29% / Sandhagen 50%
Takedown defense: Sterling 51% / Sandhagen 27%
Submissions attempted per 15 minutes: Sterling 0.8 / Sandhagen 0.6
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Sterling has finally lived up to his potential - his 2014 UFC signing was a big deal because of his status as an undefeated prospect. But getting here was rocky, as Sterling abandoned his grappling roots in attempts to become a long, lanky kickboxer. A few inefficient performances led to another evolution, and Sterling’s current iteration is one that blends strong grappling and a much tighter striking game.
The fact that he was able to pick apart a strong boxer in Jimmie Rivera says a lot about how much he’s improved - that’s not a win that looked possible just two years ago. In his most recent matchup, Sterling went toe-to-toe with Pedro Munhoz, keeping up a high pace and mixing in takedown attempts for 15 action-packed minutes. This dude can crack without slowing down.
Sandhagen used to be nothing more than a brawler, but he’s developed into a much more controlled power puncher. His win over John Lineker was particularly impressive, as Sandhagen spent much of the matchup marching into the pocket against a noted knockout artist. His striking volume is no joke - 7.14 landed per minute - and there is a ton of pop in his fists. Of course, that type of offense comes at the sake of defense, as Sandhagen eats over four strikes a minute. This ain’t a sport where anybody can take that kind of punishment for long.
UFC Odds Pick: Sandhagen to win at -105
This is a compelling, coin toss matchup. Sterling’s grappling could be the deciding factor, but he’s never been the type of overwhelm dudes with wrestling, and Sandhagen’s size probably takes that off the table anyway. In a boxing match, we’ll give the edge to Sandhagen, whose style makes him more likely to earn points with volume and aggression.
How to Bet
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