Abdullah Ouazri

The UFC has announced a top 5 matchup at Bantamweight between Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera and Cory Sandhagen on February 18th which will serve as the main event at the Apex in Las Vegas. 

**This fight takes place in the Bantamweight (135 lbs) division.**

Marlon Vera holds a professional record of 22-7-1 (14-6 UFC) and is currently ranked #4. His notable wins include Sean O’Malley, Frankie Edgar, and Rob Font.


Cory Sandhagen holds a professional record of 15-4-0 (8-3 UFC) and is currently ranked #5. His notable wins include Frankie Edgar, Marlon Moraes, and Song Yadong. 

Current odds: Cory Sandhagen -195, Marlon Vera +175.

Marlon Vera is 10-2 in his last 12 fights in the UFC and is on the biggest hot streak of his career. He began the current 4-fight winning spree against his former rival Davey Grant. His last fight against Dominick Cruz earned him Knockout of The Year nominations with his brutal 4th-round head kick KO over the legend. He holds some amazing stats in the UFC, being 1 of only 3 fighters with 20+ fights to have never been knocked down. The only other 2 are Max Holloway and Jon Jones. Alongside that impressive accolade, he has the most finishes in UFC Bantamweight history, with 11. 

Cory Sandhagen got back on track against Song Yadong last fight after a pair of decision losses to TJ Dillashaw and Petr Yan. It’s worthy of note that his only losses in the UFC are to current or former champions, his 3rd being to the sitting Bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling. Sandhagen’s fights feel like highlights from the moment they start. He always brings it and shows off a flashy arsenal of flying knees and spinning attacks. He showcased all of them in his last fight en route to a 4th-round TKO win via doctor’s stoppage. 

With a murky title picture and unclear #1 contender, this fight could have major implications on the division’s future.

Here’s the currently announced full card:

Bantamweight: Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen

Flyweight: Taila Santos vs. Erin Blanchfield

Light Heavyweight: Ovince Saint-Pruex vs. Philipe Lins 

Bantamweight: Lina Lansberg vs. Mayra Bueno Silva

Light Heavyweight: William Knight vs. Marcin Prachnio

Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Gabriel Benitez

Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Gerald Meerschaert 

Lightweight: Joe Solecki vs. Benoit Saint Denis

Flyweight: Juancamilo Ronderos vs. Clayton Carpenter

Welterweight: Billy Goff vs. Themba Gorimbo

Lightweight: Nazim Sadykhov vs. Evan Elder

We’re interested in hearing from the Verdict Community, so let us know your predictions in the comments below!

Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen Set For February 18th, 2023

Jordan Lopez

The 2022 year for the UFC will be one to remember, as it had some of the best fights and finishes of the year. Some of the most significant wins in UFC history occurred this year and fans around the world have been talking about them. There have been some crucial wins that have made history and much more. In what was an exciting year of fights, let's take a look at the top five most significant wins of the 2022 year.

## 5. Alexander Volkanovski solidifies himself as one of the greatest Featherweights of all time

![VolkMax.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/cfe5c04d-f59a-41c6-47c7-ce3446baa500/pub "Alexander Volkanovski defeating Max Holloway at UFC 276. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC.")

The debate of who is the greatest fighter ever in the Featherweight division between the two ended at UFC 276 when Alexander Volkanovski displayed a one-sided beat down on Max Holloway. It was one of the most dominating victories the UFC has ever seen, as all three judges scored the fight 50-45 in favor of Volkanovski. Both fighters were ranked inside the top ten in the men's pound-for-pound rankings before this fight, and it only made it even more exciting as legacies would be on the line. Volkanovski's win at UFC 276 catapulted him to the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings because of his dominant performance against Holloway. It was one of the most significant wins of the year as Volkanovski officially put his stamp on the Featherweight division and G.O.A.T. debate. 

## 4. Sean O'Malley proves that he belongs at the top of the Bantamweight division

![SugaSean.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/123b3a25-0bf5-4478-b074-6e4425735200/pub "Sean O'Malley landing the most significant strike and cuts open Petr Yan with a knee at UFC 280. Credits to: Chris Unger-Zuffa LLC.")

In one of the most anticipated fights of the year, Sean O'Malley proves his worth as he defeats Petr Yan via split decision. Not only did O'Malley prove doubters wrong, but he also showed why he belongs at the top of the Bantamweight division. Many people in the Verdict Community had conflicting scorecards for the fight, but it didn't take away the fact that no one had done that to Yan in the division. O'Malley was the first fighter in the division, including the champion Aljamain Sterling, to cut up and go toe-to-toe with Yan. O'Malley had him rocked and hurt a few times throughout the fight and it was the first time fans had seen that. Both fighters' skills were displayed in a razor-thin battle, but O'Malley came out with the win in the end. From the walkout song singing, "If you are what you say you are, a superstar..." to the performance, a star was officially born at UFC 280 and put the whole division on notice. With that win, O'Malley jumped to being the number one contender in the division as he shocked the world with a victory over one of the best pound-for-pound fighters. 

## 3. Islam Makhachev becomes the new king at Lightweight

![Islam.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/273e494e-65a9-4241-4363-727421ceb500/pub "Islam Makhachev with his family after winning the Lightweight championship at UFC 280. Credits to: Chris Unger-Zuffa LLC.")

The Charles Oliveira reign came to an end as Islam Makhachev submitted him at UFC 280 to become the new king in the Lightweight division. The belt returned to Russia as Makhachev won the biggest fight of his career and displayed an all-time excellent performance. He recorded a knockdown and submitted one of the best submission artists in UFC history. It was such a significant win that it ranked Makhachev as the second-best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, behind Alexander Volkanovski. The win gave the UFC an opportunity to matchmake the top two pound-for-pound fighters, and they delivered. At UFC 284, Volkanovski will be looking to be a double-champ as he faces Makhachev for the Lightweight belt. The winner of the main event can end up on the list again for one of the most significant wins of the year. 

## 2. Alex Pereira continues to be Israel Adesanya’s worst nightmare

![AlexPereira.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/336104a7-8caf-49c6-9168-2a88c0280d00/pub "Alex Pereira walking off after defeating Israel Adesanya at UFC 281. Credits to: Jeff Bottari-Zuffa LLC.")

In arguably the most significant win of the year, Alex Pereira defeated Israel Adesanya at UFC 281 via TKO, making it 3-0 in the rivalry. Pereira had already beaten Adesanya twice in kickboxing, but many in the Verdict Community had predicted Adesanya to get his revenge in MMA. That was not the case at UFC 281, as Pereira landed his signature left hook in the fifth round to hurt the former champion and ultimately had referee Marc Goddard stop the fight. The judges had Adesanya winning 3-1 in the scorecards, but with his corner's advice, Pereira pushed the pace and ended it two minutes into the last round. The legacy of Pereira continues to grow as he defeated one of the longest-tenured champions in the UFC. A rematch between both men is on the horizon and the winner of that could see themselves on this list again next year. 

## 1. Leon Edwards with the legendary KO over Kamaru Usman

![LeonEdwards.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/a7499daf-db77-4547-8967-688c67246200/pub "Leon Edwards raising the belt after defeating Kamaru Usman at UFC 278. Credits to: Josh Hedges-Zuffa LLC.")

The most significant win of the year came at UFC 278 when the knockout that was heard around the world occurred. Leon "Rocky" Edwards defeating Kamaru Usman is not only the most significant win of 2022 but in UFC history. At the time, Usman was the number one ranked pound-for-pound fighter and appeared unstoppable. The fight was going Usman's way throughout the duration of the fight as the judge's scorecards had it 39-37 going into the fifth round. With the signature clip of Edwards corner motivating "Rocky" to finish Usman in the last round, the rest was history. The head kick that was heard around the world had everyone going into a frenzy as Edwards had just won the Welterweight championship in remarkable fashion. It shook up the Welterweight division and the state of the UFC. Leon Edwards knocking out Kamaru Usman for the belt is the most significant win of the 2022 year.

The Top 5 Most Significant Wins of the Year

Starting in January, it’s going to cost you more than ever to be a UFC fan. ESPN will raise the price of numbered PPV events by $5 just a year after its last increase, per Adam Stern. 

Throughout 2022 it’s cost $74.99 to purchase a UFC PPV event through ESPN, $5 more than the year prior. Starting at UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill, fans will need to pay $79.99 to watch the main card.

This hike up in price does not affect ESPN’s yearly plan which will remain at $99.99, and it won’t change the recently updated monthly plan either, which went from $5.99 to $9.99 this year. 

At the rate it’s been going, fans will have to pay more and more each year to watch the sport they love, with the annual cost of each PPV event along with ESPN+ now totaling approximately $1,060 to $1,070.

It costs more than ever to be a UFC fan today, nearly double what it did 10 years ago

UFC Pay-Per-View Price Set to Rise Once Again Next Year

Liam Lindsay

2022 has been an insane year for MMA comebacks, with plenty of fighters claiming victory from the jaws of defeat. At the end of 2021, a large bar was set to compete against, with fights like Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler, Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Carlos Ulburg, and Merab Dvalishvili vs Marlon Moraes taking the center stage as some of the greatest comebacks ever. This year, however, is arguably one of the craziest yet. As the year is coming to a close, we're going to look back at the top 5 biggest comebacks of 2022.

## 5. Nate Landwehr 

**He survived early to give us a Fight of The Year contender.**

![Landwehr-vs-Onama.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6cf4cf09-ff43-4e74-8854-bba954904600/pub "Nate Landwehr and David Onama trading shots. Credits to: Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports.")


Nate "The Train" Landwehr headed into his bout with rising prospect David Onama back in August as a moderate underdog in San Diego for UFC Fight Night: Vera vs Cruz. Despite Onama taking the fight on just a week's notice, most MMA fans expected the Ugandan to make quick work of Landwehr. For Onama, the first round went perfectly, as he used his fast boxing to counterstrike and land straight shots while switching stances. Landwehr still pressured forward, but he got dropped with a right straight from Onama. The way he fell, it looked like it was all over, but Landwehr scrambled and survived, and this is where the real fight began. As round two started, Onama looked significantly more tired than his opponent, a credit to Landwehr's clinch knees and Onama's heavy output in the first. Landwehr also started using his combinations, landing heavily on Onama, who threw back just as hard. Next, He pressed Onama up against the cage and weighed on him, landing more clinch knees to the body and head, pursuing takedowns and submissions, and landing heavy ground and pound strikes. From receiving a 10-8 round in the first to battling back and getting his own 10-8 round, the comeback was well underway. Both fighters fought their heart out in the third, with Landwehr gaining the better of the fight, following up on his previous success in the second. Constantly, Landwehr played up to the crowd, giving up top position on Onama to stand back up and wave his hands in the air, knowing he was on his way to a victory.


![Nate The Train Experience.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9bd8fa19-7826-459a-baef-b7e7ce84ec00/pub "Nate Landwehr embracing the crowd mid-fight with David Onama. Credits to: MMA Fighting Newswire - MMA Fighting.")

As the fight closed out, Onama landed a late flurry on Landwehr, but it wasn't enough to sway the judges, as Landwehr gained a 29-27, 29-27, 28-28 majority decision over Onama. From getting pieced up and nearly stopped to winning a majority decision, this is one of the best comebacks and fights of 2022.


## 4. Drew Dober 

**Gritted Through An Early Knockdown Scare To Secure The TKO Victory.**


![Dober-Mckinney-finish.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/5c857ec4-5c2f-4bb0-45ba-7c39096fae00/pub "Drew Dober secured a first-round TKO over Terrance Mckinney. Credits to: Dan Hiergesell - MMA Mania.")


Drew Dober brawled with Terrance "T.Wrecks" Mckinney back at the Apex Arena in March for UFC Fight Night: Santos vs Ankalaev. Mckinney took this fight on short notice, two weeks removed from his previous win. Riding a five-fight-finishing streak, Mckinney was talked about as the next major Lightweight prospect, even being compared to top Lightweights throughout the buildup during fight week. Dober, who remained calm and confident during the buildup to fight week, was in for an early scare against the surging prospect. Mckinney started lightning fast, just 5 seconds into the bout, landing a step-in knee right on Dober's chin, sending him falling back into the cage. Mckinney followed up with a barrage of hooks as Dober attempted to get to his feet, resulting in Dober falling straight back to the canvas. After briefly returning to his feet, Dober took another, more brutal step-in knee to the chin, which sat him back down. Dober fought through heavy ground and pound strikes, a flush head kick, and plenty of other strikes over the next three minutes.

![Dober-Mckinney-chin.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/64063a21-9a83-48a5-c786-60d056ceea00/pub "Drew Dober had a rough start against Terrance Mckinney. Credits to: Mukhar Ghosh - Sports Manor.")

Despite all of this, Dober stuck around. After throwing his entire arsenal at his iron-chinned foe, Mckinney was gassed and began to slow down. Dober, who had Mckinney clinched up against the fence, threw a one-two and a knee up the middle, getting revenge for all the knees thrown at him. Mckinney fell to the ground and was finished off with accurate ground and pound strikes, unable to defend himself due to exhaustion. In this fight, Dober made a case for having arguably one of the best chins in the UFC and cemented himself as one of the top unranked Lightweights. In his next bout, he went on to receive a performance of the night award against Rafael Alves.


## 3. Jiří Procházka 

**He Secures a Buzzer Beater Submission.**


![Jiri-teep-glover.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9b42e9a0-885a-488e-868b-b8ab17923d00/pub "Jiří Procházka had to dig deep against Glover Teixeira. Credits to: Yong Teck Lim - Getty Images.")

Jiří Procházka battled with Glover Teixeira back in May at UFC 275 for the Light-Heavyweight title to give us one of the greatest mixed martial arts fights of all time. Procházka entered the fight on a twelve-fight knockout streak, two being UFC finishes, and both of these victories granting him performance of the night bonuses and a fight of the night bonus vs. Dominick Reyes. Heading into this bout Procházka was a comfortable favorite, but the odds proved to be once again just a number. The fight was closely contested, with both fighters giving their absolute best throughout. Teixeira looked no part of 42 years old as he ripped combinations on Procházka and used his wrestling to gain an advantage. The third round was a dominant affair from Procházka, as he constantly tagged Teixeira on the feet and nearly finished him on the ground. However, heading into the fifth round, Procházka was tailing on the judge's scorecards, with one judge having the bout a draw at 38-38 and the other two scoring the bout 39-37 and 39-37 for Teixeira.


![glover-domming-jiri.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/e0ebdfaa-2d53-4c87-153a-54c2ad394c00/pub "Jiří Procházka took heavy ground and pound from Glover Texieira . Credits to: Paul Miller, USA TODAY Sports.")


As the fifth began, Teixeira rocked Procházka badly with a double-jab cross combination, the right hand sending Procházka flying into the fence. However, Teixeira attempted to pull a guillotine choke, but Procházka slipped out and recovered in Teixeira's guard. After returning to the feet, Teixeira continued to land heavily on Procházka, who somehow managed to stay standing. With forty-five seconds left in the fifth, Procházka scrambled out from underneath Teixeira and threw up a hail mary rear-naked choke. There were thirty seconds, and Procházka had just enough time to slide his arm under Texieira's chin; the Light-Heavyweight king was forced into submission. Procházka completed one of the greatest comebacks in UFC history and earned a clear Fight of The Year contender. 


## 2. Leon Edwards 

**He Dethroned The Pound-For-Pound King.**

![leon-edwards-pfp-dead.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/3fbb7963-12fb-4842-2de0-54e940b3e700/pub " Leon Edwards landed a crushing head-kick on Kamaru Usman. Credits to: Shakiel Mahjouri - CBS Sports.")


Leon Edwards challenged for the Welterweight title against former Pound-For-Pound king Kamaru Usman in August at UFC 278. Usman had previously defeated Edwards in a three-round bout back in December 2015, where he won by a dominant unanimous decision. Neither fighter was overlooking the other, as both Usman and Edwards were completely different fighters coming into the rematch. Edwards was a moderate underdog heading into the bout, as many MMA fans and media members expected Usman to win this bout and tie the longest winning streak in UFC history, catching up to the illustrious sixteen-fight streak Anderson Silva compiled between 2006-2012. As the fight began, Usman pressured and popped out his fast jab and quickly managed to take Edwards down to the ground. Edwards, who wasn't content with accepting being on the bottom, quickly got back to his feet. He got double-underhooks on Usman and tripped the champion down to the canvas, becoming the first man to take Kamaru Usman down. From full mount, Edwards managed to transition to Usman's back and stayed there for the remainder of the round. Closing out a dominant round one, Edwards looked like he might be the superior fighter. But as the fight continued, the narrative changed. In round two, Usman returned to his game plan and kept the pressure on Edwards. He pursued takedowns and took Edwards down in every round of the fight. Furthermore, Usman's striking was working, landing his jab frequently and an array of launching hooks, and at the end of the fourth round, Usman hurt Edwards with a barrage of elbows.


![usman-winning.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9a292540-bec1-419d-2aa7-6dc485347200/pub "Kamaru Usman was dominant coming into the fifth round vs. Leon Edwards. Credits to: Jeffrey Swinger, USA TODAY Sports.")


Coming into the fifth round, Usman had nearly 10 minutes of control over Edwards and out-struck him with 175 total strikes to just 54 for Edwards. It looked like Usman was the superior fighter throughout the fight. Edwards' corner screamed at him between the fourth and fifth rounds to pull it out from the fire. The 5th started, and nothing changed. Usman still looked dominant. But with a minute to go, Edwards, who looked utterly defeated, feinted a straight at Usman and threw a rear head kick. It landed flush on Usman's chin, and the Pound-For-Pound king went down. Leon Edwards was the new Welterweight champion before delivering one of the coldest post-fight interviews ever.

> They all said I couldn't do it. Look at me now. Pound for pound. Headshot. Dead. - Leon Edwards
 
It was an incredible scene for the fighter from Birmingham, who delivered one of the greatest comeback victories and knockouts we've ever seen.


## 1. Matt Schnell 

**The Rally Of All Rallies.**

![Schnell Submits Su.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/9c306fde-b8ba-4aab-305c-ea632eb66b00/pub " Matt Schnell after triangle choking Sumudaerji. Credits to: Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports.")

Matt Schnell faced off against the returning Sumudaerji in a highly anticipated Flyweight bout back in July at UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs Rodriguez in New York. Schnell sat at #8 in the Flyweight rankings, and Su, who had not fought in 1 and a half years, sat at #12. Both fighters were looking to break into the Flyweight elite with a win over each other. As round one began, we saw both men go at it. On the feet, Sumudaerji looked incredible, using his reach advantage to throw fast straights at Schnell, who froze every time he was hit. As well as that, Sumudaerji was lighting up Schnell's body and legs with kicks, but Schnell pressured forward and managed to secure a takedown. For the rest of the round, both men scrambled for a dominant position, with Sumudaerji gaining the better. He landed some heavy ground and pound shots on top, which Schnell returned when he reversed Sumudaerji. Ending off the first, both men looked confident. Sumudaerji wanted to keep the fight standing and at his range in the second round. After a momentary pause in the action, Sumudaerji landed a crushing straight on Schenll, which sent him crumbling to the canvas; this was the start of one of the craziest sequences ever in the UFC.

![Sumudaerji-Schnell.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/1de878dd-e656-46b4-44e1-bc0eb93b1e00/pub " Sumudaerji landing an exceptional straight on Matt Schnell. Credits to: Ed Mulholland, USA TODAY Sports")

Schnell recovered from the strike, and Sumudaerji, knowing he had Schnell hurt, welcomed him back to his feet. Schnell pressured forward, knowing he needed to get one back against Sumudaerji, but was welcomed with a stabbing side-kick to the body. Then, Sumudaerji landed a massive elbow straight over Schnell's guard, which sent him kneeling on the canvas. He quickly got back up and was hit with another chopping elbow, another, and then another. Sumudaerji threw everything at Schnell, landing punches around Schnell's guard and clipping him with his long knees. Schnell looked every bit out on his feet, and it appeared that one more strike would surely spell the end of the bout. Yet Schnell still pressured forward, getting clipped with more straight shots, stumbling backward. Sumudaerji kept throwing strikes, and a labored Schnell threw two uppercuts, landing on Sumudaerji hard. A hurt and tired Sumudaerji backed away, noticeably fading. Schnell pressured forward again, hitting Sumudaerji with a straight, which rocked Sumudaerji's head back. Determined to get one back, Sumudaerji tried his own straight, but Schnell was conditioned to them by this point and quickly ducked under it and secured a takedown. Schnell postured up and landed heavy ground strikes on Sumudaerji, nearly stopping him with elbows. At the last minute, Sumudaerji managed to reverse position and get on top. Schnell wrapped his legs over and under Sumudaerji and locked him in a tight triangle choke. Sumudaerji tried everything to survive, fighting and pushing away from Schnell at every opportunity. But it wasn't enough; Sumudaerji lost consciousness, and Matt Schnell completed the most remarkable comeback of 2022. While Sumudaerji was unconscious, Schnell looked at the cameras and asked for his bonus, which he rightfully got alongside Sumudaerji for the Fight of The Night.

2022 was a crazy year for UFC comebacks, with multiple title changes happening through some genuinely wild comebacks. With the bar for comebacks increasing each year and 2023 right around the corner, it's shaping to be another exciting year for the UFC.



Top 5 Comebacks Of The Year

Per Brett Okamoto, Robert Whittaker will not be facing Paulo Costa at UFC 284 this February in Australia. The cancellation is from Costa’s side.

For several weeks Paulo Costa has been flirting with the idea that he will not fight Robert Whittaker unless he receives a pay jump. He told fans on social media that he has not signed any official contracts yet and plans on leaving the UFC after his next fight, the last on his contract.

After the news broke that fight was off, Costa made a few statements on social media:

> I wasn’t bluffing. - Paulo Costa via Twitter

![82E99CC2-DF20-454D-A69C-27E9AF3DD428.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/6d075699-ac02-414a-038f-694ed1098e00/pub "Paulo Costa warned the MMA World that he will not fight at UFC 284. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

> I feel sad for Robert because the UFC didn't tell him the truth lol, you don't deserve this.  Bro, sorry I won't fight you in Perth. UFC posting [the fight announcement] just to sell tickets. . . . They didn't pay me, I'm out! I’m not joking. - Paulo Costa via Twitter

> A great fight is going down due to lack of negotiation skills. [The UFC] should stop being petty. - Paulo Costa via Twitter.

Whittaker spoke last week with Submission Radio about the Costa fight. He said he’d heard that Costa was offered a pay raise in the form of a multi-fight contract extension but refused, stating he wants a one-and-done upgrade to his current deal.

He furthered that he was very confident in this matchup coming to fruition and that nothing would come of Costa’s words.

The UFC announced the co-main event of UFC 284, Yair Rodriguez vs. Josh Emmett for the interim title, without receiving signed consent from both fighters. As the official announcement was being aired, one side of the matchup had no idea they were supposed to be fighting.

Costa lists himself among Francis Ngannou, Sean O’Malley, and Mark Hunt. All fighters that have had negotiation battles with the UFC and hopes there is a change in the way the promotion operates.

Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa Off of UFC 284

Douglas Vegas Bets

The final UFC main event of the year from UFC Fight Night 216 at the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada gave us one last scoring controversy to discuss as the scorecards for this fight saw no unanimously scored rounds amongst the three judges cageside. With each round being up for debate, this one has a lot to look at, so let's break it down. 

## Round 1

The early stages of this fight featured a lot of Sean Strickland's pressure, and he surprisingly mixed in some grappling to minimal success. The striking was close, with Cannonier being more efficient, but the forward pressure of Strickland mixed with him having a grappling advantage, this round goes to Strickland.

10-9 Strickland (Close Round) 

## Round 2

This round saw the volume increased by Strickland, who began to settle in behind his jab and march forward with his trademark one-two combo landing frequently. Strickland was not the only one to turn up the heat, as we did see Cannonier begin to time his right hand and pick up on Strickland's patterns later in the round. 

10-9 Strickland (Close Round)

## Round 3

Entering this round, it felt like Strickland's volume outweighed Cannonier's power; however, in this round, Cannonier could find his timing on the right hand and land several hard shots. This was easily Cannonier's best round of the fight and the clearest to score for either fighter.

10-9 Cannonier (Clear Round) 

## Round 4

After the success that Cannonier saw with his power shots, we saw both men have a dip in punch accuracy for this round. The visual of the punches landing was much more noticeable as Strickland would stumble back after eating a big shot when Cannonier did not have the same reaction, which gave him this round. 

10-9 Cannonier (Close Round)

## Round 5

The final round saw both men land good combinations throughout the round; however, it felt as though Cannonier was getting off the harder shots, and Strickland was trying to catch up by using longer combinations. Overall, Cannonier was able to do more damage which gave him the final and deciding round on my card. 

10-9 Cannonier (Close Round)

Final Score 48-47 Cannonier

![Screenshot (61).png](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/53474e74-7a7d-475a-6d77-800c9587a700/public "The Verdict Scorecard for Jared Cannonier's split-decision win over Sean Strickland")

![C932B16A-57C1-4C6C-AF35-957A5DB3B04B.jpeg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d3ffb674-6df1-4093-a5d3-fab9d45e4f00/pub "Official Judges Scorecards from Cannonier vs. Strickland. Credits to: UFC News")

Looking back, did the judges raise the right fighter's hand? Yes, yes they did.

Although Strickland kept good pressure, it was Cannonier landing the more impactful punches throughout the fight. 

The Final Verdict: Jared Cannonier vs Sean Strickland

The final card of the year is here, and it will be a Middleweight main event between Jared Cannonier -115 and Sean Strickland -106 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. This card features talented up-and-comers at Lightweight, with Arman Tsarukyan -200 taking on Damir Ismagulov +160. 

**All Odds Provided By Stake.com Accurate as of 12/17/2022 6:00 AM EST**

## Jared Cannonier -115 vs. Sean Strickland -106

High ranking Middleweight clash to close out the year. Jared Cannonier has used his power to drop most men he's fought in this division, although his output could be higher. Sean Strickland uses a lot of forward pressure and constant jabs to wear on his opponents; he also has an underrated grappling game which he rarely uses offensively but helps him on defense. 

I'll take Strickland as if he can avoid a big shot; he should win a decision or even score a late finish of his own.  

Pick: Strickland O/U: Under 4.5 -111

## Arman Tsarukyan -200 vs. Damir Ismagulov +160

Can't miss matchup here at Lightweight between red-hot prospects. Arman Tsarukyan has shown a well-rounded game with an excellent ability to get damage off while controlling opponents. Damir Ismagulov has proven to be an elite striker with a solid ground game of his own. 

This matchup is tough to predict; however, I am confident it will go over 2.5 rounds as both fighters are skilled and defensively responsible. 

Pick: Tsarukyan O/U: Over 2.5 -263

## Amir Albazi -435 vs. Alessandro Costa +330

Good showcase for a top prospect here at Flyweight. Amir Albazi has been dominant lately, showing a very high-level grappling attack, with many believing he is ready to charge the top of the division. Alessandro Costa makes his UFC debut here on short notice and comes in with a good submission game.

Albazi should dominate this fight as his opponent comes in on short notice, and he is one of the best prospects in the Flyweight division right now. 

Pick: Albazi O/U: Under 2.5 -154

## Alex Caceres +143 vs. Julian Erosa -175

High pace action is expected in this Featherweight clash between veterans. Alex Caceres had his five-fight win streak halted his last time out, but he is proving to be a dangerous grappler after all this time in the UFC. Julian Erosa uses his cardio as a weapon with relentless pressure on the feet and the ground. 

This is a good matchup for Erosa, as he should be able to defend the submission attempts and win using his striking.

Pick: Erosa O/U: Over 2.5 -156

## Drew Dober -159 vs. Bobby Green +129

Fun matchmaking here at Lightweight. Drew Dober has put on some wild fights lately, showing crazy durability along with solid power in his hand. Bobby Green has hung around for a long time using his unique striking style, which can be difficult for opponents to adjust to.

I've got Dober in this one, as he has competed well with many at the top of this division, and I think he has more left in his career than Green. 

Pick: Dober O/U: Over 2.5 -175

## Cody Brundage +215 vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk -278

An exciting matchup here at Middleweight between finishers. Cody Brundage is a wrestler who has also shown knockout power. Michal Oleksiejczuk has settled in at Middleweight which seems best for him as his power translated well in his last showing. 

I'll take Oleksiejczuk here, and I think he finishes the fight as he looked great after moving down to this weight class, and I expect that to continue. 

Pick: Oleksuejczuk O/U: Under 1.5 -128

## Cheyanne Vilismas -189 vs. Cory McKenna +155

Clash of styles here at Strawweight. Cheyanne Vilismas is a good striker who is very aggressive. Cory McKenna has shown a lot of potential but also many concerns as she has struggled when forced to stand in fights.

It is hard to trust McKenna, but this is a close fight if she lands any takedowns, so I'll lean with her at this price. 

Pick: McKenna O/U: Over 2.5 -333

## Jake Matthews -323 vs. Matt Semelsberger +250

The Verdict sleeper fight of the week is set to be a banger at Welterweight. Jake Matthews joined the UFC very young and is starting to round out his game, with his striking being the focus of his last fight. Matt Semelsberger is a tricky and powerful puncher, although he does not have much ground game. 

This line is way too wide, as I believe this will mainly be a striking match, and even though Matthews has shown great improvements to his striking, Semelsberger is a very powerful puncher who is not to be counted out. 

Pick: Semelsberger O/U: Under 2.5 +121

## Said Nurmagomedov -109 vs. Saidyokub Kakhramonov -112

This is an incredible matchup of skilled young fighters in the deep Bantamweight division. Said Nurmagomedov has made a name for himself in the UFC using his slick grappling and unorthodox striking. Saidyokub Kakhramonov made a statement with his win over the highly touted Ronnie Lawrence in his last fight as he dominated from start to finish in all aspects of MMA. 

I'll bet Kakhramonov here, as he seems the more consistent of the two fighters, and I am completely sold on him as a contender after his last showing. 

Pick: Kakhramonov O/U: Over 2.5 -179

## Maheshate +125 vs. Rafa Garcia -154

Lightweight bout here that could see some good action. Maheshate is coming off a huge knockout win in his UFC debut, where he let it be known he is a striker with real power, although he did miss weight. Rafa Garcia has shown he is a consistent and durable fighter through his UFC run. 

I'll lean with Garcia here as he appears to be the more well-rounded fighter with more ways to win this matchup. 

Pick: Garcia O/U: Over 2.5 -179

## Bryan Battle +129 vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov -159

An interesting matchup to watch here at Welterweight. Bryan Battle looks to follow up his highlight knockout here to continue his run down in weight. Rinat Fakhretdinov has shown a strong wrestling game since joining the UFC. 

I've got Fakhretdinov here, as I don't see how Battle can deal with his wrestling threat.

Pick: Fakhretdinov O/U: Over 2.5 -145

## David Dvorak +190 vs. Manel Kape -238

One of the best fights on the card in the early going here at Flyweight. David Dvorak is a veteran grappler. Manel Kape has shown his power and creativity in his last few fights after a tough start to his UFC run.

I'll pick Kape by knockout as he has such explosive capability, but it is tough to back him at this price against a tough matchup.  

Pick: Kape O/U: Under 2.5 +103

## Sergey Morozov -345 vs. Journey Newsome +265

Fun matchup at Bantamweight to start off the card here. Sergey Morozov has shown a complete game in recent performances being able to compete in striking while using his grappling at effective points in the fight. Journey Newsome is very explosive and likes to push the pace. 

I like Morozov here, but at this price, it is difficult to lay the money on him with questions about his defense and against a dangerous opponent. 

Pick: Morozov O/U: Under 2.5 +121

## [DougLasVegasBets.net](https://douglasvegasbets.net) Plays

Matt Semelesberger +250

Saidyokub Kakhramonov -112

Arman Tsarukyan vs. Damir Ismagulov Over 2.5 -263

UFC Fight Night Cannonier vs. Strickland Odds Breakdown

This year we were blessed with a lot of beautiful violence across the world of mixed martial arts, from starting the year with Calvin Kattar putting on a show over Giga Chikadze at the Apex in Las Vegas to Dustin Poirier finishing Michael Chandler at Madison Square Garden in New York City. With all the memorable fights that took place this year, I wanted to look back and discuss what I think were the ten best fights of 2022.

## 10. Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mateusz Gamrot

What a display of pure skill this matchup was as we saw two of the brightest young stars in the Lightweight division put on a show for five rounds. In the early going of the fight, it seemed Tsarukyan was the one who had the control time and was winning the striking; however, later in the fight, Gamrot began using his wrestling which helped him take the final three rounds despite a huge spinning back fist from Tsarukyan in the fourth round. The scoring for this fight was close, but Gamrot would leave the Apex the winner that night. 

## 9. Petr Yan vs. Sean O'Malley

Many questions would be answered going into this contest, and many believed O'Malley didn't belong here as the biggest test we had seen for him was a no-contest with Pedro Munhoz. Not only did O'Malley prove he belonged at the highest level, but he proved he could put on incredible fights when given a willing dance partner as he and Yan traded bombs for three rounds. The early second round featured one of the best exchanges of all time as O'Malley brought the crowd to their feet by backing Yan up with a big shot, only for Yan to counter with a massive right hand that I still have no idea how O'Malley ate and remained conscious. The result of this fight is highly contested, with many believing Yan deserved to be the winner, but the judges gave the official victory to Sean O'Malley. 

![Omalley-yan-ufc280-750-750x370.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d4cc9ad0-c8a2-4cf5-d809-d3a210eac100/public "Sean O'Malley stares down Petr Yan during his split-decision win. Credits to: MMA Weekly")

## 8. Matt Schnell vs. Sumudaerji

This Flyweight battle was set up perfectly as a grappler vs. striker matchup, which is precisely how it played out. This fight had a solid start, but it was in the second round of this fight that we saw one of the most unbelievable displays of heart and guts in MMA history, with Matt Schnell surviving massive punches and elbows until he was able to land a takedown and begin to do damage which he did a lot of before securing a triangle choke that put Sumudaerji to sleep. Watching this fight live was a crazy feeling as we all began to question reality as we watched Schnell pound away from full mount after being a zombie just a minute before. 

## 7. Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira

The legendary rivalry between these two men reached a new level this year after UFC 276 set these two up to meet for the third time across two sports, this time at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This fight was a story of its own with so many twists and turns as at the end of round one, it seemed Adesanya had him badly hurt and was close to the finish, but Pereira continued to battle and had success in the striking before eventually landing the concussive blows that would force a stoppage to the contest. After this result, there is no doubt that this fight was not the end of the story between these two, and their rematch in MMA could easily be a contender for this list next year.  

![Israel Adesanya vs Alex Pereira_0.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/2ea5d514-fb13-4a42-29c1-a5d10ea75f00/public "Alex Pereira hits Israel Adesanya with a left hook during his tko victory. Credits to: MMA Fight Night Live.")

## 6. Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa

This was a spectacle in more ways than just the fight, as seeing Ciryl Gane headline an event in Paris, France, and leave the fans in awe was an incredible moment for the sport. This being said, the fight itself is nothing to be sold short as we saw Tuivasa become the first man to drop Gane, along with several wild flurries before an inevitable finish, as Tuivasa could not take any more damage from the vicious body attack of Gane. Both men had their stock raised in this incredible main event that will be remembered as the best Heavyweight clash of the year.

## 5. Kevin Holland vs. Stephen Thompson

In this fight, both men decided they wanted to push each other to the absolute limit and put on a war for the Orlando, Florida, crowd. All week both men had talked about this being a striking match, and it was just that as Holland landed a huge right hand early that wobbled Wonderboy, but he would not be hurt for long as he came back to land repeated straight left hands that had Holland in serious trouble. The fight was called off as Holland broke his hand and took too much damage, but the four rounds of action we got were pure bliss for fans of striking.  

## 4. David Onama vs. Nate Landwehr

This fight started about as poorly as it could have for Nate Landwehr, who looked as though he was about to be finished in round one, but Nate the train had other plans. Round two began, and it became clear that David Onama did not have the cardio to keep going with Landwehr, who took full advantage of this and began putting on a show by pumping up the San Diego, California, crowd in between his flurries that left Onama with just enough strength to land a few shots on Landwehr late as he gave a hail mary that would fall short in the end as Landwehr would walk away with the decision win.  

## 3. Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler

Either of these men against anyone is a guaranteed fight of the night, so naturally, when the two crossed paths with each other, we got fireworks. The first round ended with Poirier nearly getting the finish after landing a huge flurry and forcing Chandler against the cage. Still, Chandler came back with wrestling to dominate the second round setting up a winner takes all third round. In the final round, Poirier was able to secure the back and become the first man to submit Michael Chandler with a rear naked choke. 

![0_UFC-281-Poirier-v-Chandler.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/333de623-c95e-49a7-ca5c-1c52eadbbc00/public "Dustin Poirier takes Michael Chandler's back during his submission win. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

## 2. Jiri Prochazka vs. Glover Texeira

This fight was a true clash of the titans as we saw these two Light Heavyweights land massive blows to each other for almost a full twenty-five minutes. The finish was as shocking as the rest of the fight as just when we began to believe it may go the distance, Jiri was able to grab hold of a tight choke forcing the tap from Glover after being hurt earlier in the round. An immediate rematch was booked for UFC 282 but unfortunately fell through due to Jiri suffering a shoulder injury. 

## 1. Khamzat Chimaev vs. Gilbert Burns

The top spot was tough, but no fight felt like this clash at UFC 273 in Jacksonville, Florida. Both men had their moments in this battle as Chimaev scored early and looked in control until Burns unleashed a monstrous right hand that left Chimaev face down momentarily. Ultimately, Chimaev rallied and put together an excellent third round to steal the fight and keep his hype train rolling while adding a legendary war to his resume. 

![278050007_295930332669378_8572329558324335016_n.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/4be8b25a-cf95-4ce9-89bc-49950d965f00/public "Khamzat Chimaev and Gilbert Burns embrace after their fight. Credits to: The Mac Life.")

Top 10 Fights of 2022

The final event of the year goes down tomorrow at the Apex in Las Vegas. Jared Cannonier and Sean Strickland are both looking for redemption in the main event. The co-main features one of the most technical and skillful fights of the year between Lightweight boogeymen Arman Tsarukyan and Damir Ismagulov

Let’s see how the fighters weighed in:

## MAIN CARD (START TIME 7:00 PM EST on ESPN+)

Middleweight: *Jared Cannonier (185.5) vs. Sean Strickland (186)*

Lightweight: *Arman Tsarukyan (155.5) vs. Damir Ismagulov (156)*

Flyweight: *Amir Albazi (125.5) vs. Alessandro Costa (125.5)*

Featherweight: *Alex Caceres (145) vs. Julian Erosa (145.5)*

Lightweight: *Drew Dober (156) vs. Bobby Green (156)*

Middleweight: *Cody Brundage (185) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (186)*

## PRELIMINARY CARD (START TIME 4:00 PM EST on ESPN+)

Strawweight: *Cory McKenna (115.5) vs. Cheyanne Vlismas (115.5)*

Welterweight: *Jake Matthews (171) vs. Matt Semelsberger (171)*

Bantamweight: *Said Nurmagomedov (136) vs. Saidyokub Kakhramonov (136)*

Lightweight: *Rafa Garcia (155) vs. Hayisaer Maheshate (158.5)*

Welterweight: *Bryan Battle (170) vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (171)*

Flyweight: *David Dvorak (125.5) vs. Manel Kape (126)*

Bantamweight: *Sergey Morozov (136) vs. Journey Newson (135.5)*

*Hayisaer Maheshate has missed weight by 2.5 lbs and will forfeit 20% of his purse to his opponent.*

**All other fighters have made weight and their fights will proceed as planned.**

That’s it for the final card of the year folks. Let us know your predictions in the comments below!

Cannonier vs. Strickland: UFC Fight Night 216 Weigh-in results

A big fight at Middleweight goes down in the O2 Arena on March 18th at UFC 286 between top 10 contenders Marvin Vettori and Roman Dolidze, per Brett Okamoto.

**This fight takes place in the Middleweight (185 lbs) division.**

Marvin Vettori holds a professional record of 18-6-1 and is currently ranked #4. His notable wins include Paolu Costa, Jack Hermansson, and Kevin Holland.

Roman Dolidze holds a professional record of 12-1-0 and is currently ranked #8. His notable wins include Jack Hermansson, Phil Hawes, and Kyle Daukaus.

Marvin Vettori’s last fight took place at UFC Paris against Robert Whittaker. The first round was close, but he lost control of the fight as it went on. Although he’s not even 30, Vettori has already had a very illustrious UFC career. His 2 fights against Israel Adesanya were both major events in the Middleweight division. He won many fans after defeating Paulo Costa last year. Costa displayed unprecedented levels of unprofessionalism during fight week, forcing the fight to be moved from 185 lbs to 195, then to 205. When the weigh-ins came around he had the entire MMA Community against him for his antics. The fight would go on to be one of the best of the year, with Vettori taking home a unanimous decision.

Roman Dolidze had a few less than entertaining fights against Trevin Giles, John Allan, and Laureano Staropoli in the past, but has had a hot 2022, going 3-0 with 3 knockout wins. He picked up his first at UFC Austin where he put Kyle Daukaus away with a brutal knee in round 1. Next, he took on Phil Hawes in a fight where he was at his well-rounded best. He tore Hawes’ knee with a leg lock and then knocked him out cold with a 3-piece KO combo. He capped off the year with his biggest win yet. A 2nd-round TKO vs. Jack Hermansson via ground and pound from the back all while holding a calf slicer. 

![dol.jpg](https://imagedelivery.net/kd_oB-9dZCrENaJzp7HSCA/d35a38c4-f755-475b-5761-8de71f8e6b00/pub "Roman Dolidze goes 3-0 with 3 knockouts in 2022. Credits to: Zuffa LLC.")

The odds have not been officially released for this fight, but Vettori will likely open as the favorite. So far the MMA World sees Roman Dolidze as a very live underdog. Let us know your prediction in the comments below!