Bantamweight title contenders Marlon Moraes (23-6, 10 KOs, 6 SUBs) and Cory Sandhagen (12-2, 4 KOs, 3 SUBs) in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Also on the card is a solid heavyweight tilt between veteran Ben Rothwell (38-12, 28 KOs, 6 SUBs) and Marcin Tybura (19-6, 7 KOs, 6 SUBs). The streams live on ESPN+ starting 8pm ET. Let’s dive deeper into the main event, analyze the fight stats and get to your best betting options in the online sportsbook.
Bet on UFC at BookMaker.eu
Marlon Moraes (23-6, 10 KOs, 6 SUBs)
Like fellow WSOF alum Justin Gaethje, Moraes has turned out to be an extremely important player in the UFC. After a tough split decision loss to Raphael Assuncao in his octagon debut, Moraes won four straight - three by finish. Decisioning Dodson was the start, but then he scored a Knockout of the Year contender on Aljamain Sterling, flatlining him with a lethal knee. He needed about 30 seconds to KO Jimmie Rivera, then avenged his loss to Assuncao with a guillotine finish.
That stellar run led to a scrap with Henry Cejudo for the vacant bantamweight title. It was a matchup that perfectly displayed Moraes’ strengths and weaknesses. The Brazilian showed off his powerful Muay Thai, thumping Cejudo early and often for some serious damage. But Cejudo hung tough and turned the tide, taking advantage of Moraes’ cardio issues and eventually finishing him off in the third. It’s no secret that the 32-year old’s gas tank runs shallow, but he usually ends it before it even gets to that point. For what it’s worth, Moraes was able to gut out a split decision win against Jose Aldo in his last outing - and he was smart with his energy over three rounds.
There aren’t many bantamweights who can go toe to toe with Marlon in a firefight. Sandhagen will probably be all too happy to oblige - but Moraes just has to make sure he keeps an eye on his stamina levels.
Cory Sandhagen (12-2, 4 KOs, 3 SUBs)
The 28-year old Sandhagen has been tabbed as a guy to watch ever since he turned pro. For starters, he won multiple WKO kickboxing titles before transitioning to MMA. After going 5-0 in regional promotions, Sandhagen leveled up to LFA - a legitimate UFC feeder league. Though he lost his LFA debut, Sandhagen would go on to win his next two by TKO to earn his ticket to the big show. Picking up right where he left off, the Elevation Fight Team rep won five straight inside the octagon, picking up finishes in three of those. Wins against John Lineker and Raphael Assuncao locked him into a title eliminator against Aljamain Sterling, but Sandhagen got caught in an RNC that snapped his win streak and title momentum.
Training against a world-class team with TJ Dillashaw as a partner, Sandhagen has developed a movement-based striking style. The difference is that Sandhagen is an absolute unit at 135, filling out a 5'11"frame. He’s shown an impressive range in his performances, winning a striking battle with Lineker, scrambling to victory against Mario Butista and grappling successfully against Raphael Assuncao. That depth along with his aggression makes Sandhagen a real problem at 135.
Significant Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Moraes 3.53 / Sandhagen 6.95
Striking accuracy: Moraes 39% / Sandhagen 48%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Moraes 3.69 / Sandhagen 4.08
Striking defense: Moraes 58% / Sandhagen 58%
Grappling Stats
Takedowns per 15 minutes: Moraes 0.46 / Sandhagen 1.20
Takedown accuracy: Moraes 25% / Sandhagen 50%
Takedown defense: Moraes 66% / Sandhagen 33%
Submissions per 15 minutes: Moraes 0.5 / Sanhagen 0.6
UFC Picks
Moraes’ finishing power is a cheat code, but this is a matchup where you can lean Sandhagen. Training at elevation in Colorado pretty much guarantees ridiculous cardio, and that’s a cheat code to beating Moraes. Sandhagen should handle himself fine in the standup, and his ability to grapple should give him more avenues to get ahead.
UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Aldana Card & Odds
Bantamweight - Marlon Moraes +108 vs. Cory Sandhagen -132
Featherweight - Makwan Amirkhani +213 vs. Edson Barboza -264
Middleweight - Markus Perez +130 vs. Dricus du Plessis -157
Heavyweight - Marcin Tybura +134 vs. Ben Rothwell -162
Heavyweight - Chris Daukus +221 vs. Rodrigo Nascimento -274
Bantamweight - Ali Alqaisi +177 vs. Tony Kelley -215
Featherweight - Giga Chikadze +127 vs. Omar Moraes -152
Flyweight - Bruno Silva +322 vs. Tagir Ulanbekov -419
Middleweight - Joaquin Buckley +203 vs. Impa Kasanganay -250
Middleweight - KB Bhullar +207 vs. Tom Breese -255
Women’s Bantamweight - Stephanie Egger +173 vs. Tracy Cortez -210
Featherweight - Ilia Topuria +162 vs. Youssef Zalal -196
Heavyweight - Alan Baudot +414 vs. Tom Aspinall -564
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props, and money lines are all available so start betting with BookMaker today.
