Sandhagen, Vera no longer delayed for their matchup in San Antonio
Cory Sandhagen and Marlon Vera have different thoughts about their UFC matchup being delayed, but both say they’ll be ready for Saturday night’s fight at the AT&T Center.
The bantamweight bout between the fifth-ranked Sandhagen and the thirdranked Vera was originally scheduled for Feb. 18 in Las Vegas, but the UFC moved it to the Alamo City as the main event of an 11-fight card.
Sandhagen (15-4) sees Saturday’s fight as an opportunity to build a winning streak after beating Song Yadong on Sept. 17, 2022, in Las Vegas.
“I’m excited to fight,” Sandhagen said. “What’s more exciting than two kickboxers, some of the best kickboxers in the division, going at it?”
Sandhagen was optimistic about the five-week delay he and Vera received after the canceled bout in February.
“I’m actually really grateful that I got those four extra weeks because I really do feel like I figured some (stuff ) out,” Sandhagen said. “I feel like I became a lot better of a kickboxer in the last four weeks.”
Vera (20-7-1), who is currently on a four-fight win streak, is as prepared to fight now as he was a month ago.
“I was ready to go,” Vera said. “I wasn’t really needing extra time. I was craving to get in there and do my job.”
Sandhagen understands fighters get one night to prove themselves a champion. The pathway to a division title doesn’t always present itself, giving Saturday night even greater stakes.
“The likelihood of me being able to prove that I’m better than this dude is only on one night,” Sandhagen said. “I’m going to go out. Fight my (butt) off. I’m going to do everything that I can to win.”
As for Vera, Saturday night has no higher meaning than any other fight.
“Another day at the office. Another fight, a different man in front of me, and you know, I’ll be ready to go,” Vera said.
Unlike many UFC fighters, trash talk isn’t a part of Sandhagen’s game. The 30year-old has nothing but respect for his opponent.
“I think Marlon is a dog,” Sandhagen said. “He presses forward. He’s a very rooted fighter. His feet are usually on the floor so he’s able to get shots off very quickly. … Kickboxing is his biggest attribute, along with being very durable and having a hell of a will to win.”
Vera understands that he and Sandhagen stand in each other’s way on their quest to the champion belt.
For the fighter from Ecuador, the title is all that matters. “That’s everything,” Vera said. “That’s everything to me. Get the belt, bring it back to Ecuador, and eventually, one day, defend my belt in Ecuador.”
The event’s co-main event features a top-six matchup between No. 6 Yana Santos and No. 3 Holly Holm. Both bantamweights have a 14-6 record.
Santos, 33, is having her second fight after having her second child.
With obvious training and fitness alterations, Santos uses her baby as an extra incentive.
“It gives extra motivation,” Santos said, “I feel stronger than before.”
Holm, who was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2022, just signed a six-fight deal with the UFC despite being 41 years old.
Holm looks to Saturday as an opportunity to show the fighting world that she hasn’t fallen off.
“I feel like I want to prove that I’m still getting better and not on the decline,” Holm said, “but I’m still on my way up.”
The fighters are familiar with each other.
They used to be sparring partners, giving each other a lot of knowledge on their opponent’s tendencies.
“We trained together six years ago,” Santos said. “I have only respect for her before and after the fight. I don’t take this personal and I’m still going to bring my best.”
Holm is expecting the unexpected from her old gym buddy.
“She’s kind of unpredictable,” Holm said. “You get in the clinch, she might kind of surprise you with some things.”
Despite the new deal, Holm is aware her retirement on the horizon. The veteran will now try to win her first fight since 2020.
“There’s a lot of strengths that she has. I feel that I’m going to edge out everywhere, but I’m not overlooking her at all,” Holm said.
Another fight pits San Antonio native CJ Vergara (10-4-1) against Daniel Lacerda (11-4) in the flyweight division.
“I can’t describe it in words,” Vergara said of fighting in front of a home crowd. “I have a massive following in San Antonio, so when I go out and perform this Saturday, it’s going to put this city on the map.”
Vergara is coming off a submission loss to Tatsuro Taira on Oct. 15, 2022. The 31-year-old will look for redemption Saturday night.
“I’m going out there to finish,” Vergara said. “I’m going out there to finish him, or wake up and try to figure out what happened when he finished me.”