Vera vs Cruz UFC preview, best bets & odds – 13/8/2022

A battle of the bantamweights tops the UFC Fight Night bill this Saturday night as Marlon Vera faces Dominick Cruz in San Diego.

Vera comes into this bout with a 19-7-1 record as the no.5-ranked bantamweight and is a warm favourite with most betting sites. He is coming off three solid wins over credible opponents in Davey Grant, Frankie Edgar, and Rob Font. Vera also boasts a TKO win over up-and-coming star Sean O’Malley and will be looking to advance his long-range case for a title shot with a profile boosting win here.

Given that Cruz is rated below Vera, this does pose as a danger fight for the Ecuadorian. A loss will see him potentially fall in the rankings, but a win may not necessarily push him too much higher. That said, Cruz is UFC royalty and the chance to fight one of the true pioneers of the sport is motive enough for Vera. Cruz is also a big enough name to secure main-event status for this card, so we can assume Vera is being well remunerated for his efforts.

Cruz is an MMA legend and future UFC hall-of-famer. The man has done it all, winning and defending titles, returning from potentially career-ending injuries, and carving out a niche as a UFC colour commentator. To hear Cruz analyse a fight, both before and during the action, is to gain access to some of the highest-level fight IQ on the planet. His cerebral approach to the fight game is on another level.

Cruz comes in with an amazing 24-3-0 record, his losses coming to Uriah Faber (which he avenged), Cory Garbrandt, and Henry Cejudo, all fellow legends of the lighter weight divisions. Cruz is now 36 years old and hoping to mount one final title push. He has won two fights on the trot over Pedro Munhoz and Casey Kenny and is currently ranked eighth in the division. It is startling to see Cruz stand beside fellow UFC commentator and former heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier. Cruz is huge for his weight, a genetic advantage that has aided his long career.

As much as we respect Cruz’s amazing career, we are tipping Vera to claim victory in this fascinating bout. Father time is running against Cruz, and Vera should be the hungrier fighter. Neither contestant is a knockout artist, so Vera via decision is the play.

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