Sandhagen vs Song UFC betting picks & best odds – Sep 17, 2022

Is an upset on the cards when Cory Sandhagen clashes with Song Yadong in an enthralling UFC bantamweight bout in Las Vegas this Saturday night? After the truly chaotic UFC 279, the organisation will be hoping for a simple, straightforward fight night that includes all fighters making weight and squaring off against their designated opponent.

Cory Sandhagen results & record

Cory Sandhagen (14-4-0) is the fourth-ranked bantamweight and must have accepted this fight to keep busy and to bank some dollars. Fighting opponents that are ranked lower – Song Yadong is 10th – is fraught with danger. If Sandhagen wins, he moves no closer to the top of the pile, but a loss will see him slip down the pecking order.

Sandhagen does need a win though after consecutive close, decision losses to former champs Petr Yan and T.J. Dillashaw. Sandhagen’s only other recent loss was to current champ Aljamain Sterling, so he has certainly been battling the bantamweight division’s best athletes.

At 30 years of age, Sandhagen should be close to hitting his prime. He possesses explosive power as demonstrated with a flying knee knockout of former champ Frankie Edgar. If there’s a weakness to his game it would be a lack of volume, leaving him vulnerable to close decision losses. He often lands the most dynamic strike of a round but is outpointed by an opponent who works a little harder and throws greater volume.

Three of Sandhagen’s four losses come via close decisions that could have gone the other way. This represents a failure of strategy and an over-reliance on one-off power shots. He would be well served studying fighters who patiently overwhelm opponents with repeated half-powered strikes. Cornermen can often be heard shouting “touch him, just touch him” during a bout. This means to keep throwing jabs and low kicks; don’t allow extended periods to pass without landing strikes; chip away for the full five-minute round.

Song Yadong results & record

Song Yadong (19-6-1) comes into this fight on an extended hot streak. Since debuting in the UFC back in 2017, Song has fought 10 times for eight wins, one unfortunate draw where he was deducted a point, and a single decision loss. At his most recent outing Song knocked out Marlon Moraes in impressive fashion, and before that he scored a TKO versus Julio Arce. Only 24 years old, Song is still learning his craft, but a win here would catapult him into the top end of the bantamweight rankings and within sight of a title shot.

Song will face a height and reach disadvantage against the long and lean Sandhagen, so he’ll be looking to close the distance and land some heavy leather. With just a single submission win to his credit since making his UFC debut, Song’s most likely path to victory is via KO, unless he can grind out a points victory. A dramatic knockout would certainly announce his arrival to his future bantamweight title rivals.

Song trains out of Team Alpha Male under Urijah Faber, a stable with strong pedigree in the lighter weight divisions, and he should be well prepared for this fight. If he can evade the big power Sandhagen strikes, and manage the range effectively, we think he’s a solid chance to score the upset.

Top betting pick for Sandhagen vs Song


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