Get a round of bold UFC predictions for the promotion’s next event, UFC San Antonio on Saturday night.
On March 25, the promotion returns to Texas for a strong UFC Fight Night card headlined by a major matchup in the bantamweight rankings. In the main event, Marlon Vera will look to extend his four-fight win streak and lock up a title opportunity when he battles former title challenger Cory Sandhagen in a bout with “Fight of the Year” potential.
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In the co-main event, women’s MMA great Holly Holm returns to the Octagon for the first time in nearly a year and battles UFC veteran Yana Santos. The card from inside the AT&T center also features Octagon veterans Maycee Barber, Alex Perez, Trevin Giles, and Daniel Pineda.
With that in mind, let’s make a few bold UFC predictions for the promotion’s event on Saturday night.
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UFC predictions: 4 UFC San Antoni fighters getting Ws Saturday
Marlon Vera (20-7-1) vs. Cory Sandhagen (15-4)
Vera vs. Sandhagen is a matchup that fights fans have patiently awaited since it was booked. The duo is similar in being gutsy and very durable fighters, but they are also both technically proficient. They are the sort of talents many contemporaries in their weight class look to avoid because they are never an easy out on fight night. However, someone will have to lose in this one.
As good as Vera has been over the last few years, he has also benefited from favorable matchups. Sandhagen on the other hand has only fallen to former champions in the UFC, and two of those bouts were highly competitive. A win over “Chito” would do a lot for “Sandman’s” chances of getting a title fight in 2023, and he will be as on point and effective as ever when he grinds out a decision win over Vera on Saturday.
- UFC San Antonio odds: Vera (+135) vs. Sandhagen (-155)
- Prediction: Sandhagen by unanimous decision
Chidi Njokuani (22-8) vs. Albert Duraev (15-4)
After a long career outside the UFC, Chidi Njokuani has been a must-see fighter in the promotion. None of his three fights have gone to a decision, even in the one he lost. However, that may soon change against Albert Duraev at UFC San Antonio.
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The Russian has built his reputation off his grappling talents, and you can bet he will try to make use of them against a lengthy power striker like Njokuani. Our UFC predictions have “Machete” winning a ho-hum unanimous decision as he fights to ground his opponent throughout the bout.
- Odds: Njokuani (-155) vs. Duraev (+135)
- UFC Prediction: Duraev by unanimous decision
Alex Perez (24-7) vs. Manel Kape (18-6)
Alex Perez has quietly been one of the better fighters at flyweight for some time. In his nine UFC bouts, he has only lost three times, and they came to a former division champ and two top contenders. In Manel Kape he will get another tough test, but one he can surely manage.
Kape is a very dangerous striker and is building confidence again after winning three straight following two defeats to begin his UFC career. However, he has had problems with the well-rounded elites of the division and Perez is that. The American will end his current losing skid at UFC San Antonio by often grounding the former Rizin star.
- Odds: Perez (+165) vs. Kape (-195)
- Prediction: Vettori by unanimous decision
Andrea Lee (13-6) vs. Maycee Barber (11-2)
Andrea Lee has always had trouble getting over the hump and beating high-ranked competition at flyweight. The question on Saturday is if opponent Maycee Barber is now the elite fighter she was projected to be in the division. After two losses, she has risen back up with three straight victories and seems to be rounding into that athlete.
This bout feels very much like an instance of Lee needing to break through against an elite of the division, and like other times, she will fall just short against a more well-rounded talent. As Barber wins a fourth straight on Saturday by using her wrestling to get a late stoppage on her foe.
- Odds: Lee (+225) vs. Barber (-266)
- Prediction: Barber by TKO, Round 3
Holly Holm (14-6) vs. Yana Santos (14-6)
With Holly Holm set to turn 42 later this year, the legendary “Preacher’s Daughter” isn’t likely to be sticking around the sport much longer. So every time she fights could be one of the last times she does so, or even maybe the final time. Meaning fight fans should appreciate the former bantamweight champion while she is still around.
Furthermore, her scrap with Yana Santos at UFC San Antonio is also a matchup between relevant fighters in their division instead of an aging star being fed to a rising talent.
- Odds: Holm (-240) vs. Santos (+200)
- Prediction: Holm by split-decision