Song Yadong is favored against Marlon Vera at UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris on Saturday, May 16 in Jacksonville, Florida. This event is one of five fights on the main card on ESPN. Vera is 15-5-1 in his career, while Yadong is 15-4-1 in his career. There are a total of five fights on the main card on UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris, with the headliner a bout between Alistair Overeem and Walt Harris. There are also a total of six fights on the preliminary card on ESPN/ESPN+. Let’s look at the bout between Vera and Yadong and UFC predictions.
Marlon Vera 15-5-1, 9-4 UFC
Vera came into the UFC with a record of 6-1-1 and he has nine wins and four losses in the UFC. In his last six fights, he has five wins and one loss. He defeated Wuliji Buren by TKO, Guido Cannetti by rear-naked choke submission, Frankie Saenz by TKO, Nohelin Hernandez by rear-naked choke submission, and Andre Ewell by TKO; while losing to Douglas Silva de Andrade by unanimous decision. Vera has been a pro since 2012 and he has five wins by TKO/KO and seven by submission. He has six first round finishes.
Song Yadong 15-4-1, 4-0-1 UFC
Yadong came into the UFC with a record of 11-4 and he has four wins, no losses, and one draw in the UFC. He defeated Bharat Khandare by front choke submission, Felipe Arantes by TKO, Vince Morales by unanimous decision, and Alejandro Pérez by KO; while fighting to a draw against Cody Stamann. Yadong’s last loss was against Renat Ondar by unanimous decision on October 24, 2016. Yadong has been a pro since 2013 and he has six wins by TKO/KO and three by submission. He has six first round finishes.
Yadong said this to global.chinadaily.com.cn about his upcoming fight against Vera, “Vera is a strong opponent but I am confident of beating him. I am better than him in quickness and power.”
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Vera 3.43/ Yadong 3.54
Striking Accuracy: Vera 47% / Yadong 38%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Vera 3.82/ Yadong 2.74
Defense: Vera 53% / Yadong 62%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Vera 0.76/ Yadong 0.97
Takedown Accuracy: Vera 38% / Yadong 100%
Takedowns defended: Vera 68% / Yadong 66%
Submission average: Vera 1.4 / Yadong 0.7
I know Vera has won five of his last six in the UFC, but who has he beaten that is any good? Yadong has not lost a fight in more than three years and I think he has all of the advantages in this bout. I will lay the price and take Yadong to get the win. The rounds could also be worth a look, as these two fighters have combined to get 21 finishes and they have a combined 12 first round finishes. I will also go under the rounds total.
UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris takes place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, May 16, with five fights on the main card on ESPN, headlined by Alistair Overeem vs. Walt Harris and six preliminary bouts on ESPN/ESPN+.
Main card ESPN
Heavyweight - Walt Harris -160 vs. Alistair Overeem
Women’s Strawweight - Cláudia Gadelha -190 vs. Angela Hill
Featherweight - Edson Barboza -135 vs. Dan Ige
Middleweight - Krzysztof Jotko -165 vs. Eryk Anders
Featherweight - Song Yadong -200 vs. Marlon Vera
Preliminary Card ESPN/ESPN+
Welterweight - Miguel Baeza -200 vs. Matt Brown
Middleweight - Anthony Hernandez -115 vs.Kevin Holland
Featherweight Mike Davis -205 vs. Giga Chikadze
Women's Flyweight - Cortney Casey -165 vs. Mara Romero Borella
Featherweight - Darren Elkins -120 vs. Nate Landwehr
Heavyweight - Don’Tale Mayes -129 vs. Rodrigo Nascimento
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