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A bantamweight battle between fighters aiming to close in on contender status in the division is the main event at UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Vera on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It’s a busy weekend on the sports calendar with the NFL Draft taking place just down the road from the APEX, the NBA playoffs winding down the first round, and Major League Baseball now underway. But scraps inside the Octagon always attract attention and the scheduled 12-fight card is no different.
Bet on UFC online at Sugarhouse sportsbook with odds for every fight on the ticket. Saturday’s prelims start at 4:30 p.m. ET with the main card set to take place at 7 p.m. ET. The six fights on the main card will air on ESPN with the prelims on ESPN2. All fights will air on ESPN+.
UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Vera Main Card Odds
Marlon Vera +110 vs. Rob Font -140
Jake Collier +120 vs. Andrei Arlovski -150
Joanderson Brito +201 vs. Andre Fili -260
Jared Gordon +139 vs. Grant Dawson -175
Tristan Connelly +139 vs. Darren Elkins -175
Krzysztof Jotko -180 vs. Gerald Meerschaert +143
They’re not high on the list of bantamweight contenders, but they are close. Rob Font (19-5) is ranked No. 5 and looking to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to Jose Aldo last time out, which ended his four fight winning streak. Despite that Font is listed as a -140 favorite on the UFC betting line.
Marlon Vera (18-7-1) is ranked lower and his last loss was also to Aldo at the end of 2020. However, he won a pair of fights last year with a unanimous decision over Davey Grant in June and a stunning knockout of former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar in November. Vera has won eight of his last 10 fights with seven of those victories by stoppage. He also cracked the top-10 for the first time and is currently No. 8 on the list of contenders. Vera’s UFC odds have him at +110.
Vera has a lot of fights on his resume for a guy who turns 30 later this year. That experience has helped him transform from a wild, reactionary fighter earlier in his career to a more methodical tactician who trusts his skills. His aggressive nature at times cost him, but he’s been able to harness that aggression and the results have shown. He’s a finisher with 10 of his 12 UFC bouts ending inside the distance and I like him to finish Font before Round 5.
UFC Prediction: Marlon Vera +110 / (T)KO
There are some good fights lined up on the main card. The co-main event is a heavyweight tussle between ageless former champ Andrei Arlovski (33-20) and Jake Collier (13-6). It’s hard to believe it’s been over 15 years since Arlovski bested Tim Sylvia to earn the title. There have been some rough patches since, but he’s on nice run now showing no signs of slowing down. Arlovski ran his winning streak to three with a split decision over Jared Vanderaa at UFC 271 and his only setback in his last six bouts was to No. 6 contender Tom Aspinall 15 months ago. The UFC betting sites have Collier as the underdog at +120, but he is coming off his best fight as a heavyweight with a first round submission of Chase Sherman in January. Collier has settled in as a heavyweight after bouncing around divisions, but the 43-year-old vet Arlovski still has some trick up his sleave.
UFC Prediction: Andrei Arlovski -150 / Decision
UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Vera Prelim Card Odds
Daniel Lacerda -120 vs. Francisco Figueiredo +108
Gabe Green -140 vs. Yohan Lainesse +120
Mike Breeden +158 vs. Natan Levy -200
Shanna Young +143 vs. Gina Mazany -181
Carlos Candelario +194 vs. Tatsuro Taira -250
The most intriguing fight on the preliminary card will set the tone for the entire night. In 19 professional fights between them, Tatsuro Taira (10-0) and Carlos Candelario (8-1) have one loss between them. On Saturday they compete in the pinnacle of MMA fighting inside the Octagon for the first time. Quite possibly the top talent to ever come from Japan, Taira has finishes in eight of his 10 wins and he will be one to watch in the flyweight ranks moving forward with a strong showing. Current fight odds have him at +250. Candelario is no slouch with his only loss a controversial split decision to Victor Altamarino. He showed the UFC brass something becoming the first fighter to lose in the Contender Series and still be called to make the jump inside the Octagon.
UFC Prediction: Tatsuro Taira -250 / (T)KO
