The UFC in Vegas 32: TJ Dillashaw vs. Cory Sandhagen main card UFC Odds are available. Read on for our complete betting guide and preview on this weekend’s favourite matchups, including updated odds and our free expert UFC betting picks.
UFC Bantamweight Bout
Saturday, July 24, 2021 – 11:35 PM EDT at Apex Centre
The long-awaited return of former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw is upon us; this weekend, he’ll be looking to derail the hype train that is Cory Sandhagen. A long layoff for TJ was through his own doing; testing positive for illegal substances cost the American his championship and the respect he had earned amongst the Division’s elite.
Can he return with the same skills? Were supplements assisting his impressive martial arts career? These questions will be answered this weekend. Cory Sandhagen should own all the confidence this weekend; a collection of striking masterclasses have put the bantamweight challenger in a position to reach the end goal, UFC gold. A victory over TJ will almost guarantee him an argument to challenge for the championship, but can he overcome the former titleholder?
Dillashaw is coming off a two-year absence and a knockout loss to Henry Cejudo. His attempts to slug it out inside the pocket cost him dearly – suffering a crucial knockout loss to the flyweight king, stopping his chances of becoming a two-division champion. However, his winning and losing results haven’t aged well after testing positive for banned substances, but we can’t guarantee this will eradicate his elite skill set.
TJ has steered away from his Division I wrestling background because of the success he’s found through an evolving striking offence. However, in facing an extremely long fighter who possesses a knockout threat from all angles – a wrestling approach could be the answer to Sandhagen’s game plan this weekend.
Sandhagen has success fighting from both orthodox and southpaw stances; switching his offence consistently makes it incredibly difficult to predict the offence he throws. It’s no secret that Sandhagen will want to keep this fight standing and at a distance, utilizing his length whilst defending TJ from covering the distance with jabs, lethal knees and/or front kicks.
I anticipate Sandhagen covering his ground well; TJ struggles to find comfort against fighter’s who move well – something that Sandhagen does precisely. You could almost say this matchup is tailor-made for Sandhagen, where he’ll own all the striking advantages.
UFC Best Bet: Cory Sandhagen at -180 with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
UFC Bantamweight Bout
Saturday, July 24, 2021 - 10:35 PM EDT at Apex Centre
Competing in martial arts since the age of six, Kyler Phillips owns a plethora of accomplishments in the sport, from Jiu-Jitsu championship wins, Judo tournament victories and wrestling competition successes. Currently riding a four-fight win streak (3-0 UFC), Phillips has evidently evolved since his two losses in 2018 and is looking to become a scary prospect.
His opponent this weekend, Raulian Paiva, is taking this contest on short notice and stepping up a weight class – two combinations I struggle to favour when considering his chances of victory. To be completely honest, I believe this contest is a complete mismatch. Paiva owns a forward pressure and a lack of head movement, which will fall right into the lightning-fast striking offence of Phillips, and with Song Yadong barely surviving round one versus Phillips during his previous bout – I predict we’ll see another MMA masterclass from Phillips.
Beautiful combinations that can sometimes provide an excellent takedown to finish, Phillips should ground this fight and fight a submission or, alternatively, finish his opponent on the feet. I can’t see an area of this contest where Paiva will own the advantage; as mentioned, his walk-down style of pressure could cost him dearly in this matchup, and I think it will.
UFC Best Bet: Kyler Phillips to win at -280 with BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.