After a superb outing in London last weekend, that saw Leon Edwards retain his UFC Welterweight Championship against Kamaru Usman, UFC returns Stateside. Everything is bigger in Texas, and cards don’t come much bigger than this Fight Night extravaganza.
The main event sees elite bantamweight Marlon Vera take on former Interim title challenger Cory Sandhagen. Vera is riding a four fight winning streak, having taken home either Fight or Performance of the Night in each of those victories.
The co-main event features combat sports royalty as former boxing and UFC world champion Holly Holm faces ex-Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion Yana Santos. Former Ronda Rousey-conqueror Holm is coming off a controversial split decision loss to Ketlen Vieira and has just signed a new six-fight deal with the promotion.
Here’s everything you need to know about UFC on ESPN 43.
Where: AT & T Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States
When: Saturday 25th March, (9pm UK time)
How To Watch: BT Sport 2HD
Tale Of The Tape:
Vera:
Place Of Birth: Chone, Ecuador
Residence: Irvine, California, United States
Age: 30
Alias: Chito
Record: 20-7-1
Height: 5’8”
Reach: 70½’’
Stance: Southpaw
Last Fight: Vera knocked out two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz with a head kick in four rounds last August.
Sandhagen:
Place Of Birth: Aurora, Colorado, United States
Age: 30
Alias: The Sandman
Record: 15-4
Height: 5’11”
Reach: 69½ ”
Stance: Switch
Last Fight: Song Yandong was pulled out by the doctor after four rounds against Sandhagen in September.
What They Say:
“I don’t need to say anything about him to think I’m going to win. I’m going to win because I’m working this hard. He’s going to wake up and be like, ‘F*ck, I got caught.’ But you didn’t get caught, you got knocked the f*ck out or you got submitted.” (Vera, MMA Junkie)
"I have all of the advantages in this fight. I think 'Chito' holds a puncher's chance... I foresee me out-kickboxing him, me out-wrestling him, and me out-grappling (him). I don't really see where 'Chito' has a nod in this fight, other than the power." (Sandhagen, MiddleEasy)
Full Fight Card:
Main Card
Marlon Vera v Cory Sandhagen
Holly Holm v Yana Santos
Nate Landwehr v Austin Lingo
Andrea Lee v Maycee Barber
Chidi Njokuani v Albert Duraev
Preliminary Card
Alex Perez v Manel Kape
Daniel Pineda v Tucker Lutz
Steven Peterson v Lucas Alexander
Trevin Giles v Preston Parsons
C.J. Vergara v Daniel da Silva
Manuel Torres v Trey Ogden
Victor Altamirano v Vinicius Salvador
Hailey Cowan v Tamires Vidal
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
