Yahoo Sports UFC on ESPN 43 predictions: Vera or Sandhagen, Holm or Santos in San Antonio?
Vera | Holm | Landwehr | Barber | Kape | Duraev | |
MMA Junkie readers’ | 
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George Garcia |
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Nolan King | 
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Simon Samano |
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Matt Erickson |
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Matthew Wells |
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Abbey Subhan |
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Farah Hannoun |
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Mike Bohn  2014 Champion |
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Danny Segura |
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Ken Hathaway 2018, 2022 Champion |
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Brian Garcia 2017 Champion |
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The UFC has touched down in the “Lone Star State” this week with four bantamweights at the top of the bill.
UFC on ESPN 43 takes place Saturday at AT&T Center in San Antonio. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, Marlon Vera (20-7-1 MMA, 14-6 UFC) takes on Cory Sandhagen (15-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC) in a fight between perennial bantamweight contenders. Sandhagen is a -170 favorite at Tipico Sportsbook; the comeback on Vera is +145. But our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have slight underdog Vera ahead at 6-5 in the picks.
In the co-feature, former women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm (14-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) takes on Yana Santos (14-6 MMA, 4-3 UFC). Holm just signed a new six-fight deal with the UFC and is a -250 favorite at the betting window. She’s also the only unanimous pick from our staff members.
Also on the main card, Nate Landwehr (16-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) meets short-notice replacement Austin Lingo (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at featherweight. Landwehr is more than a 2-1 favorite and is a near-unanimous pick at 10-1.
Our second unanimous pick is the biggest favorite on the main card. Maycee Barber (11-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is a -270 favorite at the sportsbook and has a shutout in our picks against Andrea Lee (13-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC) in their women’s flyweight bout.
Manel Kape (18-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) is a nearly 2-1 favorite in his flyweight bout against Alex Perez (24-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC). He doesn’t have a shutout, but he has a big 9-2 lead in the picks.
And to open the main card, Chidi Njokuani (22-8 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is a near-unanimous pick in his middleweight fight against Albert Duraev (15-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC). Njokuani is the smallest favorite on the main card at -155, but he’s got a near-shutout in our picks at 10-1.
In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Vera (62 percent), Holm (80 percent), Landwehr (74 percent), Barber (72 percent), Kape (63 percent) and Njokuani (79 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 43.
