UFC Vegas 18: Cory Sandhagen vs. Frankie Edgar Picks and Predictions

Cory Sandhagen and Frankie Edgar face off on Saturday in a  bantamweight bout for the co-main event of UFC Vegas 18 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. 

Cory Sandhagen comes into this game with a 13-2 record overall and since coming into the UFC he has won six of their last seven games. Sandhagen’s last fight was against Marlon Moraes in October of 2010 and early in the second round he was able to win by knockout. His only loss came two fights ago and it was by rear naked choke. Sandhagen is currently averaging 6.88 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.89 significant strikes per minute. Sandhagen is also averaging 1.07 takedowns every 15 minutes but only successful on 50 percent of his takedown attempts. Sandhagen only stops 30 percent of his opponents takedown attempts and that is something that really needs to be improved upon going forward. Sandhagen not often will try to lock in a submission attempt but he does try 0.5 of them every 15 minutes. 

Frankie “The Answer” Edgar comes into this game with a 23-8-1 but he only has one win over his last three fights. After losing back to back fights against Max Holloway and Chan Sung Jung, Edgar finally got it back on the right track against Pedro Munhoz. Edgar was actually outstruck 166-135 in that fight, but his two takedowns were enough to come away with a split decision victory. Edgar is averaging 3.70 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 2.70 significant strikes per minute. Edgar wants to get the fight to the ground and he is averaging 2.28 takedowns every 15 minutes. Edgar is only successful on 31 percent of his takedown attempts though. In this fight, Edgar needs to try and get the fight to the ground, and control it from there.