UFC Nashville: Sandhagen vs. Font Fight Card, Predictions, & Odds

Two ranked UFC bantamweight contenders, Cory Sandhagen (16-4) and Rob Font (20-6), will headline the main event of the promotion’s return in Nashville this Saturday, Aug. 5. Sandhangen is the No. 4-ranked contender, while Font is ranked No. 7 in the 135-pound division. Although both compete in the bantamweight division, their match will be contested in a catchweight at 140 pounds.

We 👏 Don't 👏 Stop! 👏@CorySandhagen vs @RobSFont headlines at #UFCNashville this weekend! pic.twitter.com/xZJPwauw9h

— UFC (@ufc) July 31, 2023

Because of his back-to-back wins and fewer losses in his record, Sandhagen is tagged as the betting favorite in the UFC odds at -300 against Font, who comes in as the betting underdog at +250. Another factor for their roles in the betting lines is that Font is a two-week late replacement opponent for Sandhagen after Umar Nurmagomedov stepped down due to a shoulder injury he suffered during training camp.

Cory Sandhagen Recent Fight Results

Cory Sandhagen holds an impressive record of nine wins and three losses in the UFC since making his Octagon debut in January 2018. Among these wins were six stoppages via TKO/KOs and submission. Before signing with the Las Vegas-based promotion, the “Sandman” had already racked up a pro MMA record of seven wins and one loss.

Among the wins that Sandhagen collected against the UFC were against Austin Arnett, Iuri Alcantara, Mario Bautista, John Lineker, Raphael Assuncao, Marlon Moraes, Frankie Edgar, Song Yadong, and Marlon Vera. On the other hand, the Elevation Fight Team athlete’s losses were courtesy of Aljamain Sterling, T.J. Dillashaw, and Petr Yan.

Still one of the nastiest knees you’ll EVER see 🤯@CorySandhagen's coming for another show stopper at #UFCNashville Saturday! pic.twitter.com/nacIGUumbd

— UFC (@ufc) July 31, 2023

Rob Font Recent Fight Results

Like Sandhagen, Rob Font only had a loss in his first 11 professional MMA fights before cracking a roster spot in the UFC in July 2014. Since joining the Dana White-headed promotion, Font collected 10 wins and absorbed five losses in almost a decade. His best stretch happened between December 2018 and May 2021, when he won four straight bouts.

The fighter of Puerto Rican descent was victorious over George Roop, Joey Gomez, Matt Schnell, Douglas Silva de Andrade, Thomas Almeida, Sergio Pettis, Ricky Simon, Marlon Moraes, Cody Garbrandt, and Andrian Yanez. Font’s losses came from John Lineker, Pedro Munhoz, Raphael Assuncao, Jose Aldo, and Marlon Vera.

Rob Font's last fight ended like THIS 😳@RobSFont ready for Cory Sandhagen this weekend at #UFCNashville! pic.twitter.com/yURNpzl2a5

— UFC (@ufc) July 31, 2023

Cory Sandhagen vs. Rob Font: Tale of the Tape

Cory Sandhagen vs. Rob Font: Fight Analysis

The tale of the tape of Sandhagen and Font reads a three-inch height and one-and-a-half inch of leg reach advantage for the former, while the latter will have a one-and-a-half inch reach edge. Sandhagen is also five years younger than Font and has a better overall record. In terms of fighting style, they are both strikers with over 60% of finishing rate.

This fighting style is very evident in their significant strike numbers, with Font being the more accurate fighter offensively at 6.46 significant strikes landed per minute (46%) compared to Sandhagen’s 5.98 (44%). However, defensively, Sandhagen has slightly better statistics of 3.9 significant strikes absorbed per minute (57%) versus Font’s 4.03 (56%).

In the grappling department, Font leads in three of the four major categories such as the takedown average per 15 minutes with 1.01 (compared to Sandhagen’s 0.89), takedown accuracy of 36% (versus Sandhagen’s 21%), and submission average per 15 minutes of 0.42 (against Sandhagen’s 0.30). The only category that Sandhagen is better against Font is the takedown defense of 64% compared to his 55%.

Despite the similarity in their base fighting style of striking, there is a big difference in their offensive arsenal, as Font employs a more boxing type of attack which is heavy on punches. In contrast, Sandhagen’s strikes come in variations of punches, kicks, elbow, and knee strikes. In other words, Font is more of a traditional striker, while Sandhagen is an unpredictable and unorthodox fighter.

Although Font has heavier hands, which he maximizes with stiff jabs and powerful combinations, Sandhagen’s unpredictable and unconventional striking could give problems to the 36-year-old. The variety of the “Sandman’s” attack has been proven against the boxing-based strikers and smaller fighters like Moraes and Edgar, whom he both beat via TKO/KO.

Another significant factor for this upcoming fight is the two-week short notice and a short training camp of Font. This highly favors Sandhagen because he will be dealing with another striker rather than fighting a grappler in Nurmagomedov, making the necessary adjustments to his fight plan,as he has already fought in a few similar fighting styles.

Official Prediction: TKO/KO victory for Cory Sandhagen.

See the entire UFC Nashville: Sandhagen vs. Font odds and wagers here.