Yan vs Sandhagen Betting Odds & Picks

See below the betting picks for UFC 267’s Petr Yan vs Cory Sandhagen.

On October 30, the UFC is in Abu Dhabi for the first time since January of this year. In UFC 267 main event of the fight card, UFC 267, Jan Blachowicz looks to defend his light heavyweight title against the No. 1 ranked contender Glover Teixeira. In the co-main event, former bantamweight champion and current No. 1 ranked 135-pounder in the official UFC rankings, Petr Yan faces the No. 3 ranked Cory Sandhagen for the UFC interim bantamweight crown.

Current bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling was forced from his matchup after he struggled in training in the aftermath of neck surgery.

Let’s have a look at the Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen betting odds coming from the top UFC betting sites.

The Former Champ

Yan won the vacant UFC bantamweight title with an impressive TKO win over former UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo in July 2020. In his first defence of that title, Yan landed an illegal knee on Sterling and lost his belt via disqualification. That bout happened in March 2021.

Yan was on a 10-fight winning streak when he faced Sterling and his UFC record was a perfect 7-0 with four knockout wins during that stretch.

If I am a member of Yan’s team, I’m going over the recent T.J. Dillashaw vs. Sandhagen fight in detail. Dillashaw won that fight by split decision. Dillashaw’s style and approach against Sandhagen should be the blueprint Yan builds around and expands on.

Yan needs to watch out for Sandhagen’s stand-up. Sandhagen often takes reckless chances and attempts techniques that put him in dangerous positions. A powerful and aware striker like Yan can take advantage of Sandhagen’s recklessness.

The Highly Ranked Prospect

First, props to Sandhagen for taking a risky fight on short notice. However, the choice was a calculated risk because Sandhagen was not likely to get a title shot coming off his loss to Dillashaw.

Sandhagen is one of the best fighters at landing flying knees in the division. Sterling landed two of those knees on Yan. So. don’t be surprised to see Sandhagen attempt that technique throughout the fight. Sandhagen is faster, taller and more powerful than Sterling and if those knees land, Yan could be in big trouble.

The Dillashaw loss took some shine of Sandhagen’s rise, but he is still a threat.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sandhagen let himself get taken to the mat early and work an aggressive submission game before the two fighters get too slick with sweat as Sandhagen is a fabulous grappler.

The longer this fight goes, the less of a chance Sandhagen has to win.

The Pick

I love this matchup. This is a bout that fight fans want to see as, at least on paper, it looks like it is going to be exciting and fast-paced with the possibility of an abrupt ending.

It’s not out of line to think that Sandhagen will pull off an upset with an early knockout or submission win. He is very much a live underdog in this contest. However, I’m leaning toward the former champ.

I think Yan’s composure, power, skills, chin and his ability to take an opponent to deep water and tire them out will carry the day. A late TKO win is not out of the question for Yan, but I think he wins this one via a five-round decision and captures the UFC interim bantamweight title.