The UFC’s bantamweight division features some of the top fighters in MMA today. With Petr Yan as the champion, the division has seen some high-profile fights. Are fans ready for more?
Yan is scheduled to face Aljamain Sterling at UFC 259 in March. After that, regardless of who is the champion, who’s next? The next few months feature some of the top bantamweights on the roster. This week at UFC Vegas 18, Cory Sandhagen and former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will look to cement their status as true contenders.
Sandhagen’s hopeful rise to glory
At 28, Sandhagen is ranked second in the UFC’s bantamweight rankings. His last fight was a TKO win against Marlon Moraes back in October. It was a rebound following a submission loss to Sterling at UFC 250, which cemented Sterling’s status as a contender. Since joining the UFC in 2018, Sandhagen is 6-1.
An impressive win against a legend in Edgar may propel Sandhagen to the front of the line. This is especially true considering T.J. Dillashaw is expected to return following a suspension that lasted two years. A former champion, Dillashaw might end up cutting the line to fight for a title he never lost in the Octagon. Sandhagen ended up telling SCMP MMA that this fight is the true #1 contender match.
I think it’s gotta be a title shot if it makes sense in my head, Sandhagen stated, via Middle Easy. That’s why I took the fight more than anything… I wanted to stay busy, I wanted a big name, I wanted someone that is good, and Edgar’s it.
I think TJ definitely needs a win over one of these top guys too, before he comes back and fights for a belt. I heard him say he’s playing the financially secure card, and ‘I’ll wait for a title shot,’ this and that. We’ve been putting in work while you’ve been gone. So that would kind of be a bummer if they just gave it to him.
If Dillashaw does somehow get involved, Sandhagen, if he were to beat Sterling, could end up fighting Dillashaw to stop his momentum right away.
Does Edgar have the answer?
Ranked fourth in the division, Edgar finally made his bantamweight debut in August. He beat Pedro Munhoz via split decision, ending a two-fight losing streak. A pro since 2005, Edgar has now competed in three divisions after a run with the UFC lightweight title. Attempting twice to become featherweight champion, Edgar always came up short.
Edgar impressed with his win and showed that even at 39 he is still fast and powerful. A win could propel him towards a title shot. Dana White mentioned that Edgar needs at least one or two more wins under his belt at bantamweight to earn said shot. Beating the man in front of him, and potentially decisively, could be the result White is looking for.
Who has the advantage?
Sizing the two up, the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 184 sees fighters with a mix of backgrounds. Edgar is a wrestler with boxing experience, while Sandhagen is a kickboxing champion.
Sandhagen has a Significant Strikes Landed per Minute advantage, with 6.88 compared to Edgar’s 3.70. Edgar, however, has an advantage over Sandhagen on the ground; Sandhagen has a 50% takedown success rate, to go along with a 30% defense rate. Edgar on the other hand had a 65% takedown defense rate. He does have a 31% success rate, however, but that could just be from recent outings.
Looking into it further, Sandhagen has a 61.5% finish rate compared to Edgar’s 43.5%. Edgar does have experience and stamina on his side, with the average length of his fights going 13:37 compared to 8:20 for Sandhagen. Could youth end up in Sandhagen’s favor, or will Edgar’s old tricks (mixed in with some new ones) give him the advantage?
The bantamweights are on notice
While the bout isn’t the main event, it still has a big fight feel to it. Both have plenty to prove, with not that much time to show off. This could very well be the fight that brings us another major bout in 2021.
The stage is set for the young guard to face the grizzled veteran. Who do you have winning this potential bantamweight classic?
