Marlon Vera is favored against Dominick Cruz at UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Cruz on Saturday, August 13 in San Diego, California. This event is one of 13 fights on ESPN/ESPN+. Vera is 19-7-1 in his career, while Cruz is 24-3 in his career. There are a total of 13 fights, all on ESPN/ESPN+ at UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Cruz. Let’s look at the bout between Vera and Cruz and UFC predictions.
UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Cruz takes place at UFC Apex in San Diego, California on Saturday, August 13 with 13 fights, all on ESPN/ESPN+.
UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Cruz Betting
Marlon Vera (19-7-1, 13-6 UFC)
Vera came into the UFC with a record of 6-1-1 and he has 13 wins and six losses in the UFC. In his last six fights, he has four wins and two losses. He defeated Sean O'Malley by TKO, Davey Grant by unanimous decision, Frankie Edgar by KO, and Rob Font by unanimous decision; while losing to Song Yadong by unanimous decision and José Aldo by unanimous decision. Vera has been a pro since 2012 and he has seven wins by TKO/KO and eight by submission. He has seven first round finishes.
Vera said this to mmajunkie.usatoday.com about his upcoming fight against Cruz, “I just see it as total destruction. How? When? I don’t know what round. Who cares? But he’s going to be down and I’m going to move forward. So I just feel whoever puts on a better performance, and depending on who fought who in the past, is going to get it. I don’t care about what happens in any of those fights. I’m just worried about taking the head off Dominick, kick his ass, finish him and then see what’s going on.”
Dominick Cruz (24-3, 7-2 UFC)
Cruz came into the UFC with a record of 17-1 and he has seven wins and two losses in the UFC. He defeated Urijah Faber by unanimous decision, Demetrious Johnson by unanimous decision, Takeya Mizugaki by KO, T.J. Dillashaw by split decision, Urijah Faber by unanimous decision, Casey Kenney by split decision, and Pedro Munhoz by unanimous decision; while losing to Cody Garbrandt by unanimous decision and Henry Cejudo by TKO. Cruz has been a pro since 2005 and he has seven wins by TKO/KO and one by submission. He has five first round finishes.
Cruz said this to sportskeeda.com about his upcoming fight against Vera, “It moves me to the top of the division. I mean, as a former champion those are the fights you want you want, former champions fighting for the champions because I've got a following. I've done it before. People are behind me and that's what this is. It's about getting the most eyes on the fight that you can and with the following I have, I think that that plus a big win gets me right up there to the top.”
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Vera 4.33 / Cruz 3.82
Striking Accuracy: Vera 51% / Cruz 33%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Vera 4.99 / Cruz 2.56
Defense: Vera 50% / Cruz 71%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Vera 0.73 / Cruz 2.88
Takedown Accuracy: Vera 42% / Cruz 43%
Takedowns defended: Vera 68% / Cruz 83%
Submission average: Vera 1.1 / Cruz 0.1
UFC Picks
Vera is listed as about a 2-1 favorite with the rounds at 4.5. I think the price on Vera is a little bit high, as I think Cruz can win this fight and I am also surprised at the rounds. If Vera wins this fight, then he is likely to get a finish, while if Cruz wins, it seems likely the fight goes to a decision. I’ll take both of the plus money options and take Cruz at +179 and the under 4.5 rounds at +158.
| DATE | FIGHTERS | MONEY LINE |
| 08/13 | Dominick Cruz | +179 |
| Marlon Vera | -230 |
| 08/13 | Devin Clark | +120 |
| Azamat Murzakanov | -150 |
| 08/13 | Gerald Meerschaert | +221 |
| Bruno Silva | -290 |
| 08/13 | Lukasz Brzeski | +204 |
| Martin Buday | -265 |
| 08/13 | Iasmin Lucindo | +165 |
| Yazmin Jauregui | -210 |
| 08/13 | Nina Nunes | +134 |
| Cynthia Calvillo | -168 |
| 08/13 | Nate Landwehr | +204 |
| David Onama | -265 |
| 08/13 | Charlie Ontiveros | +292 |
| Gabriel Benitez | -400 |
| 08/13 | Tyson Nam | +194 |
| Ode Osbourne | -250 |
| 08/13 | Angela Hill | +264 |
| Lupita Godinez | -355 |
| 08/13 | Priscila Cachoeira | +150 |
| Ariane Lipski | -190 |
| 08/13 | DaMon Blackshear | -104 |
| Youssef Zalal | -126 |
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