Top-ranked UFC bantamweight contenders Marlon Moraes and Cory Sandhagen will headline the UFC Fight Night set for October 10, 2020. The winner of the bout will all but guarantee themselves a shot at undisputed gold against Petr Yan. Additionally, the 135-pound scrap serves as the fifth Fight Night appearance on Yas Fight Island as the UFC continues their second stint at the venue.

‘Magic’ Marlon comes in as the top-ranked 135-pounder in the world and has gone 5-1 in his last six outings with the promotion. He’s coming off a controversial split decision win over Jose Aldo. The MMA community largely picked Aldo to win by the end, considering Marlon’s late-round energy depletion. Although he suffered a setback for the strap against Henry Cejudo, Marlon is considered by some to be the uncrowned champion.

Cory Sandhagen’s last octagon appearance left plenty to be imagined as Aljamain Sterling stopped him in just under 90 seconds. The bout served as a title eliminator and Sandhagen’s poor showing broke his seven-fight win streak. Despite the debacle that took place at UFC 250, ‘The Sandman’ has an opportunity to re-enter the mix with a strong showing.

UFC bantamweights: Marlon Moraes vs Cory Sandhagen

The former WSOF veteran, Moraes, comes in with the distinct advantage of having championship experience over Cory. He has had many main event headlining appearances and five-round bookings. However, Marlon’s gas tank tells another story. The Brazilian is an early starter who looks virtually unbeatable in the first round. However, his explosiveness and power punching abilities deplete as the fight lingers on.

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Sandhagen possesses a significant range advantage heading into the contest as he towers over his opponent at 5’11’’. He’s seen to have the superior cardio and will be favored to have the fresher set of lungs. The fight has the potential to play out to Sandhagen’s strength should he keep Marlon’s explosions at bay.

Read: “Where You At, Dana!”- Aljamain Sterling Calls for Dana White After Putting Cory Sandhagen to Sleep

Despite his propensity to gas out, Marlon Moraes has displayed a sense of dominance like few others in his run. He’s skilled at cutting the cage to blitz with a flurry of strikes, and Cory’s evasiveness may not be enough. Moreover, the power discrepancy should factor in when dealing with a high caliber bout with major implications of gold.

Prediction: Marlon Moraes to claim a second-round TKO stoppage.

Also Watch: Top Finishes from Fight Island 5 Fighters