Marlon Vera vs. Pedro Munhoz Prediction: Who Will Climb the Bantamweight Rankings in this UFC 292 Clash?
Marlon Vera battles Pedro Munhoz this Saturday. Who will climb the Bantamweight rankings in this UFC 292 clash? UFC expert Ben Rajavuori breaks down this UFC 292 fight.
Ben Rajavuori
| 7 min
Marlon Vera vs. Pedro Munhoz Prediction: Who Will Climb the Bantamweight Rankings in this UFC 292 Clash?
While the main event is the most exciting bantamweight bout on the card, the pay-per-view opener between Marlon Vera and Pedro Munhoz is not far behind. In fact, both men have faced the challenger for the bantamweight belt this weekend, Sean O'Malley, and neither has lost. Munhoz has even fought both the champion and challenger. I think this bout is very strategically placed on this card in this spot because the winner may not be far from a title shot of their own. The case would be much more difficult for Munhoz at this point in his career, but a win for Marlon Vera puts him right back into contention after the tough loss to Cory Sandhagen.
Marlon Vera vs. Pedro Munhoz Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Saturday, August 19, 2023,
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: PPV
Marlon Vera vs. Pedro Munhoz Prediction
Marlon "Chito" Vera entered the spotlight as a rising star, but a recent setback against Cory Sandhagen dented his momentum. Still, let's not underestimate the arsenal at Chito's disposal. His ability to seize opportunities and capitalize on them with devastating precision has led to a trail of success in the UFC. Vera's Muay Thai striking, exemplified by one of the best-kicking games in the UFC, make him one of the most dangerous fighters in the division.
On the other side of the cage stands Pedro "The Young Punisher" Munhoz, a veteran with a reputation for durability. Munhoz's leg kicks have become legendary, and he uses them to beat his opponent's calves to a point where they can barely stand on their lead leg and are almost forced to switch stances. Munhoz can enter the range and throw leg kicks time after time because he has never been finished in his career once and has been one of the most durable bantamweight fighters in history. Of course, Vera has also never been finished, leading to a near -400 line on this fight to go the distance.
Munhoz's forward pressure, coupled with his takedown defense and crafty submission skills, make him a formidable opponent. However, his vulnerability lies in his predictability. Fighters with superior footwork and precise counters have been able to exploit his linear approach, leaving him exposed to well-timed strikes.
For Vera, a victory would reestablish his position among the division's elite and offer a potential path to a future title shot. Munhoz, on the other hand, needs this win to stay relevant in the rankings now that he is 2-4-1 in his past seven fights.
At the end of the day, the books got this one right, pinning Vera as the favorite. Vera has a long history of performing as the favorite. He is 4-5 in 9 fights as an underdog and 10-2 as a favorite. That includes an 8-0 run in his last eight fights as the favorite. His leg kick game can rival Munhoz's, as we saw the power in his leg kicks force a TKO in the O'Malley fight after his leg gave out. O'Malley said the injury was a fluke, but Vera landed several hard calf kicks in the first round of that fight. At this point in their careers, Vera is the more damaging striker, and that power should add up as the fight progresses. Assuming this fight goes to the scorecards, damage trumps all, and I see Vera landing the bigger shots across fifteen minutes. Vera is a -210 favorite, but a bet on him to win by decision brings this line to plus money at +110. That is the play for this fight.
Marlon Vera vs. Pedro Munhoz Pick
Pick: Marlon Vera to Win by Decision +110 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
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