Preview: UFC on ESPN 43 ‘Vera vs. Sandhagen’

Featherweights

Nate Landwehr (16-4, 3-2 UFC) vs. Austin Lingo (9-1, 2-1 UFC)

ODDS: Landwehr (-225), Lingo (+190)

It has been nice to watch Landwehr carve out a niche for himself as one of the most exciting fighters on the UFC roster. “The Train” earned his UFC career the hard way, making a name for himself in Russia as a perennially tough out. Opponents could outwrestle Landwehr, but he possessed the heart and cardio to outlast opponent after opponent and rack up wins on the regional scene. Landwehr had some hype upon returning stateside in the UFC, but worries were immediately raised about his ability to survive against a new type of competition. Two of Landwehr’s first three fights saw him get knocked out in short order before he could even get the chance to stage one of his signature comebacks. After rebounding with a fun win over Ludovit Klein, Landwehr made established a foothold with a decision win over David Onama in August, as the two battled through exhaustion for a three-round war with near-finish after near-finish on both sides until the Tennessee native got the nod. The UFC seems to be banking on similar fireworks with Landwehr getting another prominent main card placement, and Lingo should be a willing dance partner. Lingo’s game is simple but effective, mostly built around marching his opponent down and throwing some absolute heat. On the regional scene, that led to a string of quick knockouts, but while the finishes have dried up for “Lights Out” in the UFC, he has shown an impressive ability to keep his pace and carry his power for 15 minutes. That might make this a tricky fight for Landwehr beyond the ever-present risk of a first-round knockout, but assuming he does not get sparked early, he should be able to take over this fight over the long haul, even if he will likely have to rely on some wrestling of his own to do so. The pick is Landwehr via decision.

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Vera vs. Sandhagen
Holm vs. Santos
Landwehr vs. Lingo
Barber vs. Lee
Kape vs. Perez
Njokuani vs. Duraev
The Prelims