UFC San Diego Main Card Predictions, Odds and Results: Vera vs Cruz
Pintsized Background
The UFC sets off for a non-PPV, non-Apex fight card – glorious days. UFC San Diego features an intriguing main event between gatekeeper-turned-prospect, Chito Vera, aiming to thwart Cruz’s returning title charge. Sneaking in the co-main event, Nate Landwehr rears his ugly head. David Onama is a brutal, bloody striker yet Landwehr’s attritional is the perfect litmus paper test.
Where/When is UFC San Diego Main Card taking place:
August 13, 2022. Pechanga Arena. San Diego, United States.
What time does UFC San Diego Main Card start:
🇬🇧 UK: 12am / 🇺🇸 US ET: 7pm
What channel is UFC San Diego Main Card on:
🇬🇧 UK: BT Sports / 🇺🇸 US: ESPN+
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- 🚀 Preview: UFC Vegas 59 Predictions: Santos vs Hill
- 🥊 PI’s Recommended Fight: Bryan Battle vs Takashi Sato
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UFC San Diego Main Card Picks & Odds
| UFC San Diego Main Card Fights & Odds | Winner | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominick Cruz (+190) Marlon Vera (-225) | Cruz | Decision | / |
| David Onama (-275) Nate Landwehr (+230) | Onama | TKO | 2 |
| Iasmin Lucindo (+180) Yazmin Jauregui (-210) | Jauregui | Decision | / |
| Azamat Murzakanov (-150) Devin Clark (+130) | Murzakanov | TKO | 2 |
| Ariane Lipski (-210) Priscila Caochoeira (+180) | Lipski | Decision | / |
| Bruno Silva (-285) Gerald Meerschaert (+240) | Silva | TKO | 2 |
UFC San Diego Main Card: Main Event
Marlon Vera vs Dominick Cruz
Bantamweight (135)
Marlon Vera (21-7-1)
Just how far has Marlon Vera matured since his arse-whopping to Jose Aldo at the close of 2020? Vera is a huge Bantamweight and never looked close to tiring. Cruz has a long injury list and lacks the pop to his strikes to crack Vera’s granite chin. The confidence that Vera has oozed over 2021-2022 leaves me to believe that Vera will be comfortable eating Cruz’s loopy, point-scoring strikes while waiting for the perfect combination.
The issues with Vera’s game stem from two types of fighters. Opponents who can handle pressure and operate off the back-foot (i.e. Aldo, Douglas Silva de Andrade) or fighters who can out-muscle Vera at his own game (John Linekar, Yadong Song). Cruz awkwardly lingers between the two. Cruz will continue to move and set traps for Vera – yet he is slowing with age and increasingly looks hurt by shots that wouldn’t have registered in the past.
Dominick Cruz (24-3)
Since Cruz’s crushing back-to-back losses against Cody Garbrandt and Henry Cejudo, part of the sparkle has been missing. Cruz remains an awkward mover and exceptionally wise at snatching rounds by edging activity. There is a drop-off in explosiveness, yet the Dominator digs deep into his vast cardio to spread his pace more evenly across rounds.
Once upon a time, grappling was the bread and butter of Cruz’s game. Victories over Casey Kenney and Pedro Munhoz highlight a shift in the game plan. While Cruz still attempts regular takedowns, they are rarely pursued to the mat. Against Chito Vera, there is always the pathway to the ground, however. The Ecuadorian is a slow starter and can be coaxed into extended grappling exchanges off his back – red flags against a consummate game planner.
Predicted Result: Cruz Decision
Once upon a time, grappling was the bread and butter of Cruz’s game. While Cruz still attempts regular takedowns, they are rarely pursued to the mat. Against Chito Vera, there is always the pathway to the ground, however. The Ecuadorian is a slow starter and can be coaxed into extended grappling exchanges off his back – red flags against a consummate game planner.
Still, the confidence that Vera has oozed over 2021-2022 leaves me to believe that Vera will be comfortable eating Cruz’s loopy, point-scoring strikes while waiting for the perfect combination. Cruz is on borrowed time during the twilight of his career, he is slowing with age and increasingly looks hurt by shots that wouldn’t have registered in the past. At thirty-seven years old, I’m backing Cruz as it is a stylistic dream if not for the long injury list.
UFC San Diego Main Card: Co-Main Event
David Onama vs Nate Landwehr
Featherweight (145)
David Onama (10-1)
Nate Train is back baby, choo choo. Fair play to Landwehr, his grinding attritional gameplan kept L’udovit Klein pinned to the cage and eventually broke the Slovak. There is also a decent counter-striking game that caught both Klein and Darren Elkins by surprise. Unfortunately for Landwehr, he lacks the chin to force wars on the inside and create opportunities to grapple. An excellent fight that will make or break Onama.
Nate Landwehr (15-4)
Nate Train is back baby, choo choo. Fair play to Landwehr, his grinding attritional gameplan kept L’udovit Klein pinned to the cage and eventually broke the Slovak. There is also a decent counter-striking game that caught both Klein and Darren Elkins by surprise. Unfortunately for Landwehr, he lacks the chin to force wars on the inside and create opportunities to grapple. An excellent fight that will make or break Onama.
Predicted Result: Onama TKO Round 2
Landwehr’s grinding attritional gameplan broke L’udovit Klein against the cage. There is also a decent counter-striking game that caught both Klein and Darren Elkins by surprise. Unfortunately for Landwehr, he lacks the chin to force wars on the inside and create opportunities to grapple. Nate Train’s pressure could cause Onama to technically unravel as he attempts to maintain a comfortable striking distance. More likely is that the Ugandan’s plus power eventually catches an overzealous Landwehr.
UFC San Diego: Main Card
Yazmin Jauregui vs Iasmin Lucindo
Women’s Strawweight (115)
Yazmin Jauregui (8-0)
Gotta level with you chief, how does this earn a Main Card spot? Two Strawweight UFC debutants, Jauregui represents the more educated fighter. Jauregui is confident on the outside, regularly resetting her feet to reestablish her preferred distance. Lucindo has an advantage in the clinch and there are opportunities where Jauregui has her feet planted – yet Jauregui’s scrambles have so far seemed satisfactory.
Iasmin Lucindo (13-4)
Despite owning the deeper record on paper, many of Lucindo’s most recent wins stem from the very worst of the Brazilian regional scene. Lucindo is only twenty years old, however, and could certainly stick around the UFC a while to refine her skill set. Currently, Lucindo builds her game off of crafty inside boxing and clinch work – but at Women’s Strawweight, that’s often enough.
Predicted Result: Jauregui Decision
Two Strawweight UFC debutants, Jauregui represents the more educated fighter. Jauregui is confident on the outside, regularly resetting her feet to reestablish her preferred distance. Lucindo’s game is limited to crafty inside boxing and clinch work – but at Women’s Strawweight, that’s often enough. Jauregui is a strong scrambler, however, and should execute the cleaner work to sweep the scorecards.
Devin Clark vs Azamat Murzakanov
Light Heavyweight (205)
Devin Clark (13-6)
Brown Bear successfully dipped his toes into Heavyweight with a brutal third-round TKO over William Knight. More technically polished than Azamat Murzakanov, Clark’s major worry will be his chin. Murzakanov is a relentless force who remains unwavering in his search for the finish. Despite Clark’s technical superiority, he has been overwhelmed by the likes of Ion Cutelaba and Ryan Spann.
Azamat Murzakanov (11-0)
Despite the highlight reel finish over Tafon Nchukwi, it must be remembered that Murzakanov was engaged in a toe-to-toe war for much of their bout. Clark is an exceptional athlete, yet he lacks the tools to punish Murzakanov’s periods of staticity. Eventually, Clark will throw a naked kick and Murzakanov will snap into a trademark power counter.
Predicted Result: Murzakanov TKO Round 2
Clark is an exceptional athlete, yet he lacks the tools to punish Murzakanov’s periods of staticity. Not to say that Murzakanov is technically polished, far from it. Yet despite Clark’s technical superiority, he has been overwhelmed by the likes of Ion Cutelaba and Ryan Spann. Eventually, Clark will throw a naked kick or loose strike and allow Murzakanov to snap into a trademark power counter.
Ariane Lipski vs Priscila Cachoeira
Women’s Flyweight (125)
Ariane Lipski (14-7)
Is Ariane Lipski finally on the path to a career rebuild? Lipski has matured since her humbling to Joanne Wood. Against Bohm, Lipski was far more confident in setting a methodical pace and denying Bohm the attempt to go strike-for-strike. The same gameplan has to be utilised against Cachoeira, a heavy-handed yet technically devoid striker.
Priscila Cachoeira (11-4)
Cachoeira should have been cut after the pathetic eye-gouge attempt. Zombie Girl does live up to her name as a walking punch bag, but it’s also sad that this division rewards meathead brawling. Cachoeira is a far more consistent fighter, so it’s never off the cards that Lipski suffers another career brainfart.
Predicted Result: Lipski Decision
Lipski has matured since her humbling to Joanne Wood. Against Bohm, Lipski was far more confident in setting a methodical pace and denying Bohm the attempt to go strike-for-strike. The same gameplan has to be utilised against Cachoeira, a heavy-handed yet technically devoid striker. The only worry is Lipski’s career inconsistency – Cachoeira, for all her flaws, is one of the most consistent fighters on the books.
Gerald Meerschaert vs Bruno Silva
Middleweight (185)
Gerald Meerschaert (34-15)
Unsurprisingly, Meerschart was unable to find a ‘get out’ clause against the insanely consistent (and boring) Krzysztof Jotko. Silva is a fearsome power puncher and could replicate Chimaev’s seventeen-second chinning. The Brazilian is also error-prone, however, and Meerschaert is a serpent on the mat. GM3 owns the heart but lacks the durability to eventually punish Silva on the mat.
Bruno Silva (22-7)
No matter the craftiness of Meerschaert’s straight counter-punching, Silva owns lights-out power that will eventually catch the flat-footed grappler. Silva is by no means a technical savant, yet he needn’t be if the UFC offers kind match-making. Sadly, Meerschaert lacks the wrestling chops to put doubt in Silva’s mind on the feet – not that the Brazilian would change his game plan anyway.
Predicted Result: Silva TKO Round 1
No matter the craftiness of Meerschaert’s straight counter-punching, Silva owns lights-out power that will eventually catch the flat-footed grappler. Sadly, Meerschaert lacks the wrestling chops to put doubt in Silva’s mind on the feet – not that the Brazilian would change his game plan anyway. Silva is error-prone, so there is always the possibility that he bundles himself to the mat, but GM3’s waning durability is the biggest red flag.
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