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Edgar Chaput
Marlon Vera vs Pedro Munhoz: UFC 292 Odds, Prediction
The Ecuadorian Vera and Brazilian Munhoz will engage in a Bantamweight bout to the delight of Bostonians and UFC fans everywhere. Both have earned 20 wins in their professional careers, making this a keen fight to follow.
It’s Marlon Vera who the MMA odds deem as the favourite, priced at -220 to Munhoz’s +165. All in all a rather even match.
Marlon Vera UFC 292 Odds
A native of Chone, Ecuador, the 30-year-old Marlon Vera enters the octagon with a commendable 20-8-1 record. Nicknamed “Chito”, he’s earned himself a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Vera has been active in the last year. In April 2022 at UFC on ESPN 35 he went toe-to-toe with Rob Font. The latter came in at two and a half pounds over the weight limit, which paid Vera 20 per cent of his rival’s purse. What’s more, the Ecuadorian emerged victorious via unanimous decision and the battle itself was award Fight of the Night honours. Later in August at UFC on ESPN 41, he knocked out Dominick Cruz in the fourth round. Most recently was a fight against Cory Sandhagen in March at UFC on ESPN 43, which he lost via split decision.
Even though the two fighters come in at the same weight (136.00 lbs), Vera’s reach is significantly longer at 70.5 inches to 64.5. He also possesses an advantage at leg reach (40.5 to 36.5). Wins come in all varieties for “Chito”, with 40 per cent earned through KO and TKO, another 40 courtesy of submissions, and 20 thanks to favourable decisions. He goes for a lot of strikes per minute, landing 4.09 on average but he takes 5.02. Grappling is not a significant part of his game, as he only goes for 0.61 per 15 minutes. His defence against such tackling is a good 69 per cent.
Pedro Munhoz UFC 292 Odds
The 36-year-old Brazilian is in fact replacing Henry Cejudo, Vera’s original opponent for this event. Cejudo had to bow out because of a shoulder injury. Munhoz has an awesome nickname, “The Young Punisher”. Not only does he possess a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu from his native land, but a brown belt in Judo as well.
His last three fights are more interspersed than Vera’s. Back in December 2021 at UFC 269, he was scheduled against Dominick Cruz. In a twist, a unanimous decision went against him even though he took down Cruz twice during the match via strikes. Later was a bout versus Sean O’Malley in July of last year at UFC 276. That contest concluded with no decision because Munhoz received an inadvertent poke in his eye and could not continue the fight. Most recently was a date with Chris Gutiérrez in April at UFC on ESPN 44, which he won thanks to a unanimous decision.
Munhoz’s methods of victory are more even spread out than Vera’s. KO and TKO represent 26 per cent of the wins, 42 come from submission and 32 from decisions. His average fight time clocks in at 10:54, which is a lot faster than his opponent’s 12:48. He lands even more major hits every 60 seconds than this week’s opponent at 5.3. As we’ve written time and time again, the more hits one attempts the more one opens themselves to attack, hence the 5.9 licks he takes every minute. Grappling is even less a part of Munhoz’s tactics as he tries only 0.51 every 15 minutes but his defence is incredible at 81 per cent.
