UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen

UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen (also known as UFC on ESPN 43) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 25, 2023, at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, United States.[2][3]

UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen
The poster for UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateMarch 25, 2023 (2023-03-25)
VenueAT&T Center
CitySan Antonio, Texas, United States
Attendance16,076[1]
Total gate$2,150,000[1]
Event chronology
UFC 286: Edwards vs. Usman 3 UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2

Background

The event marked the promotion's third visit to San Antonio and first since UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Edwards in July 2019.[2]

A bantamweight bout between Marlon Vera and former interim UFC Bantamweight Championship challenger Cory Sandhagen headlined the event.[4] They were previously expected to headline UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield, but were rescheduled to this event for unknown reasons.[5]

Although it was not announced by the promotion, a rematch between Irene Aldana and former UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship challenger Raquel Pennington was originally rumored to headline this event.[6] The pair previously met at UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Edwards, where Pennington won by a split decision.[7] However, the bout never materialized.

Sean Brady and Michel Pereira were expected to meet in a welterweight bout.[8] However, Brady pulled out in mid-February due to a torn groin and the bout was scrapped.[9]

A featherweight bout between Alex Caceres and Nate Landwehr was expected to take place at the event.[10] However, Caceres withdrew due to an undisclosed reason and was replaced by Austin Lingo.[11]

Liang Na and Brogan Walker-Sanchez were expected to meet in a women's flyweight bout.[12] However, Liang pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and Walker-Sanchez was moved to UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes a month later as a replacement against Iasmin Lucindo.[13]

Tamires Vidal was expected to face Hailey Cowan in a women's bantamweight bout at the event.[14] However, Vidal pulled out due to undisclosed medical reasons and the pairing was scrapped.[15]

A lightweight bout between Manuel Torres and Trey Ogden was expected to take place at the event, but it was cancelled the day before due to Torres suffering a medical issue.[16]

Former UFC Flyweight Championship challenger Alex Perez and former Rizin Bantamweight Champion Manel Kape were expected to meet on the main card.[17] However, the pairing was cancelled during the broadcast as Perez suffered a seizure backstage.[18][19]

During the event's broadcast, former UFC Lightweight Championship challenger Donald Cerrone was announced as the next "modern wing" UFC Hall of Fame inductee.[20]

Results
Main card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Bantamweight Cory Sandhagen def. Marlon Vera Decision (split) (47–48, 50–45, 49–46) 5 5:00
Women's Bantamweight Holly Holm def. Yana Santos Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Featherweight Nate Landwehr def. Austin Lingo Submission (rear-naked choke) 2 4:11
Women's Flyweight Maycee Barber def. Andrea Lee Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Middleweight Albert Duraev def. Chidi Njokuani Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Featherweight Daniel Pineda def. Tucker Lutz Submission (guillotine choke) 2 2:50
Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Featherweight Lucas Alexander def. Steven Peterson Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Welterweight Trevin Giles def. Preston Parsons Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) 3 5:00
Flyweight C.J. Vergara def. Daniel da Silva TKO (punches) 2 4:04
Flyweight Victor Altamirano def. Vinicius Salvador Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00

    [21]

    Bonus awards

    The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[22]

    • Fight of the Night: C.J. Vergara vs. Daniel da Silva
    • Performance of the Night: Nate Landwehr and Daniel Pineda

    See also

    References
    1. Mike Bohn (2023-03-26). "UFC on ESPN 43 post-event facts: Charles Oliveira's longstanding record under threat". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
    2. Jay Anderson (2022-12-08). "UFC heading to San Antonio for March 25, 2023 Fight Night event". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
    3. Nolan King (2022-12-08). "UFC officially announces early 2023 schedule: Dates, locations, and venues". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
    4. Staff (2023-02-02). "Cory Sandhagen vs. Marlon Vera rebooked to headline March 25 UFC event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
    5. Mike Bohn (2022-12-23). "Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen to headline UFC Fight Night on Feb. 18". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
    6. Vipin Raghuwanshi (2023-01-26). "Irene Aldana vs Raquel Pennington 2 to Headline UFC San Antonio". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
    7. Heath Harshman (2019-07-20). "UFC San Antonio results: Raquel Pennington snaps Skid with split-decision win over Irene Aldana". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
    8. Drake Riggs (2022-12-26). "Sean Brady vs. Michel Pereira on tap for UFC San Antonio in March". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
    9. Staff (2023-02-11). "Sean Brady says he tore groin; UFC on ESPN 43 fight with Michel Pereira off". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
    10. Nolan King (2023-01-12). "UFC adds Alex Caceres vs. Nate Landwehr to San Antonio lineup". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
    11. Hubert Zdun (2023-03-13). "Nate Landwehr will face Austin Lingo at UFC San Antonio". mmarocks.pl. Retrieved 2023-03-15. (in Polish)
    12. Staff (2023-02-10). "Na Liang faces Brogan Walker at UFC San Antonio". asianmma.com. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
    13. Arshad (2023-03-17). "Brogan Walker replaced M.Martinez against Iasmin Lucindo at April 22 UFC event". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
    14. Nolan King (2023-03-10). "UFC on ESPN 43 gets late addition: Hailey Cowan vs. Tamires Vidal for San Antonio". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
    15. Matthew Wells (2023-03-23). "UFC on ESPN 43 news: Tamires Vidal out, Hailey Cowan's debut delayed again". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
    16. Staff (2023-03-24). "Manuel Torres medical issue scraps Trey Ogden fight at UFC on ESPN 43". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
    17. Matthew Wells and Mike Bohn (2022-12-23). "Ranked UFC flyweights Alex Perez, Manel Kape to clash in March". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
    18. Matthew Wells (2023-03-25). "Fight day medical issue forces Alex Perez out of UFC on ESPN 43 vs. Manel Kape". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
    19. Newswire (2023-03-26). "Alex Perez says backstage 'seizure' caused UFC San Antonio fight cancellation". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
    20. Marc Raimondi (2023-03-25). "Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone to be inducted into UFC Hall of Fame". espn.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
    21. "UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
    22. Matt Erickson (2023-03-25). "UFC on ESPN 43 bonuses: Early Comeback of Year candidate gets $50,000". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
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