Official – Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen headlines UFC Vegas 69 on February 18.

An eye-catching potential UFC bantamweight title-eliminator between surging contender, Marlon Vera, and former interim title challenger, Cory Sandhagen, is set to take main event status at a UFC Vegas 69 on February 18. The event is scheduled to take place at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Vera, the current #4 ranked bantamweight contender, will search out his fifth consecutive victory at the bantamweight limit following an impressive run throughout this year, most recently headlining UFC San Diego in a stunning fourth round high-kick KO win over former champion, Dominick Cruz.

For Sandhagen, the #5 rated bantamweight challenger headlined UFC Vegas 60 back in September against Song Yadong, snapping a two-fight losing skid in an impressive fourth round doctor’s stoppage TKO victory. The UFC confirmed the matchup Vera and Sandhagen on their official Twitter account.

“BANGER ALERT. @ChitoVerauFC and @CorySandhagen will be taking center stage Saturday, Feb. 18th!” 

Riding a four-fight winning streak into his 2023 main event with Sandhagen, Chone native, Marlon Vera managed to hand the aforenoted, Cruz, as well as former lightweight champion, the recently retired, Frankie Edgar knockout losses during his winning run.

In two other victories during that winning spree, Vera handed unanimous decision defeats to both Davey Grant, and the above-noted, Font. 

Back in 2020, Vera managed to land a first round ground strikes TKO win over the current number-one division contender, Sean O’Malley.

Competing for an interim bantamweight crown back in October of last year on ‘Fight Island’, Sandhagen dropped a unanimous decision defeat against former undisputed champion, Petr Yan.

Boasting an impressive 15-4 professional record, Sandhagen holds professional wins over the likes of John Lineker, Raphael Assuncao, as well as former championship challenger, Marlon Moraes, and common-foe, Edgar.

Ross Markey

Senior writer for FightBook MMA. An aspiring mixed martial arts reporter based in Ireland. Producer of news articles, interviews, opinion features, and exclusive features such as, ‘The Fallout’, ‘The Breakdown, and, ‘This Week In MMA’.