UFC Vegas 60 Main Card Predictions, Odds and Results: Sandhagen vs Song
Pintsized Background
After the disaster that was UFC 279, it sure is pleasant to watch only one weigh-in horror show for UFC Vegas 60. We lose Aspen Ladd vs Sara McMann due to Ladd’s consistent failure to make 135lbs, but there’s a sprinkling of saucy fights throughout Saturday’s fun. In the main event, Sandhagen and Song lock horns in a wonderfully intriguing top-end Bantamweight scrap. Meanwhile, Andre Fili and Bill Algeo float on the main card as a sleeper FOTN – bombs will be dropped.
Where/When is UFC Vegas 60 taking place:
September 17, 2022. UFC Apex. Nevada, United States.
What time does UFC Vegas 60 start:
🇬🇧 UK: 12pm / 🇺🇸 US ET: 7pm
What channel is UFC Vegas 60 on:
🇬🇧 UK: BT Sports / 🇺🇸 US: ESPN+
Pintsized MMA content from the week before:
🚀 Preview: UFC 279 Predictions, Odds and Results: Diaz vs Ferguson
💰 PI’s Recommended Fight: Johnny Walker vs Ion Cutelaba
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🥊 UFC Vegas 60 Full Card | 🌟 UFC Vegas 60 Prelims | 📺 YouTube
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UFC Vegas 60 Main Card Picks & Odds
| UFC Vegas 60 Main Card Fights & Odds | Winner | Method | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Sandhagen (-205) Yadong Song (+175) | Sandhagen | Decision | / |
| Chidi Njokuani (-130) Gregory Rodrigues (+110) | Rodrigues | Submission | 2 |
| Andre Fili (-125) Bill Algeo (+105) | Fili | Decision | / |
| Alen Amedovski (+400) Joseph Pyfer (-500) | Pyfer | Submission | 1 |
| Tanner Boser (-180) Rodrigo Nascimento (+155) | Boser | Decision | / |
| Anthony Hernandez (-210) Marc-Andre Barriault (+180) | Hernandez | Decision | / |
UFC Vegas 60 Main Card: Main Event
Cory Sandhagen vs Yadong Song
Bantamweight (135)
Cory Sandhagen (14-4)
The Sandman may well be sitting on a 2-fight slide, but there is an argument that Sandhagen pipped both T.J. Dillashaw and Petr Yan. Against the former, Sandhagen uncharacteristically fought a smart, educated game off the back foot. For the latter, Sandhagen incorporated his bread-and-butter again, thriving in the pocket with fast, evasive combinations.
Song’s newfound power may initially be seen as an issue, but Sandhagen’s masterful control over heavier hitter, John Linekar, cannot be overlooked. In addition, Song prefers to plant his feet and sit into his combinations, offering ample opportunity for Sandhagen to escape laterally. The major question mark hovers over Sandhagen’s ability to keep himself standing against Song. It is very difficult to take Sandhagen down, yet as seen against Dillashaw, once on the mat Sandhagen can be controlled for significant periods of time.
Yadong Song (19-6-1)
Kung Fu Kid is a fantastically well-rounded fighter, but there haven’t been many signs that he will be able to stamp his identity against an elite operator. Song’s striking has taken great strides over recent fights, building combinations as he gains momentum across the course of the fight. It’s unlikely that Song’s striking is at the level that it can deal with the constant variations and adaptations that Sandhagen creates over twenty-five minutes.
Sandhagen is not capable of pushing a hard pace for the entirety of a fight. There is a possibility that Song can out-gun Sandhagen in trades, pushing a far higher volume than the American is capable of. Song has a quality chin but with Sandhagen’s keen eye for the body, Kung Fu Kid’s mettle will be tested very deep into the fight.
Sandhagen vs Song Prediction: Sandhagen Decision
Kung Fu Kid is a fantastically well-rounded fighter, but there haven’t been many signs that he will be able to stamp his identity against an elite operator. Song prefers to plant his feet and sit into his combinations, offering ample opportunity for Sandhagen to escape laterally. Even with Song’s newfound power, it is difficult to look past Sandhagen’s masterful striking clinic against the heavier-handed, John Linekar.
One area of concern is Sandhagen’s pedestrian pace at times. There is a possibility that Song can out-gun Sandhagen in trades, pushing a far higher volume than the American is capable of. Still, with Song’s wrestling unlikely to factor much into the equation, Sandhagen’s constant adaptations on the feet have to be favoured over the five rounds.
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UFC Vegas 60 Main Card: Co-Main Event
Chidi Njokuani vs Gregory Rodrigues
Middleweight (185)
Chidi Njokuani (22-7)
Fair play to Njokuani, he looked phenomenal against Dusko Todorovic. Back-to-back first-round stoppages haven’t quite gained Bang Bang the attraction you’d expect, but a co-main highlight reel will go some way to solving that. Robocop could make this a relatively simple affair if he steadfastly pursues a ground battle, but the Brazilian has regularly matched his opponent’s preferred fight during his time at the UFC. In a slug-fest, Njoukuani’s power offers a level of danger that Rodrigues may come to rue.
Gregory Rodrigues (12-4)
A fantastic wrestler, Njokuani will struggle massively if Robocop shoots for the hips. As the fight is most likely to be a war on the feet, Rodrigues cannot be written off as a slouch. The Brazilian throws short, intelligent combinations which will keep Njokuani pinned on the back foot. Whether Bang Bang can slip and find the perfect one-shot counter, is what much of the fight rests upon.
Njokuani vs Rodrigues Prediction: Rodrigues Submission Round 2
A fantastic wrestler, Njokuani will struggle massively if Robocop shoots for the hips. Interestingly for fans, the Brazilian has regularly matched his opponent’s preferred fight during his time at the UFC. Although Njokuani carries frightening power, much of the fight rests upon whether Bang Bang can slip and find the perfect one-shot counter. Backing Robocop’s short, intelligent combinations to keep Njokuani on the back foot before finding the finish on the mat.
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UFC Vegas 60: Main Card
Andre Fili vs Bill Algeo
Featherweight (145)
Andre Fili (21-9)
Watching Touchy Fili crumple against Joanderson Brito was a sad state of affairs. Has Fili’s chin gone? Will there be mental scars? It’s late in the day for Fili’s career, but he has built his career on scrappiness and durability – it would be best to respect that Fili can bounce back immediately. Add in that Algeo’s finishes largely stem from exhausted opponents late down the stretch, there shouldn’t be another flash KO for Fili.
Bill Algeo (16-6)
Can Bill Algeo handle himself at range against Fili? Algeo looks to wade into the pocket and create chaos up-close. This could be three rounds of Fili jabbing the head of Senor Perfecto. Add in Fili’s solid TDD against top UFC names, Algeo could find himself in bad positions if he falls into panic wrestling.
Fili vs Algeo Prediction: Fili Decision
Can Bill Algeo handle himself at range against Fili? Algeo looks to wade into the pocket and create chaos up-close. This very well could be three rounds of Fili jabbing the head of Senor Perfecto. Add in Fili’s solid TDD against top UFC names, Algeo could find himself in bad positions if he falls into panic wrestling. Still, Fili is coming off of a shocking 45-second icing to Joanderson Brito which may carry over some mental hangover.
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Alen Amedovski vs Joseph Pyfer
Middleweight (185)
Alen Amedovski (8-3)
How is Alen Amedovski still in the UFC? Signed by the UFC as a first-round murder machine, the Macedonian lost his ideal game in a fifteen-second brawl with John Phillips. Cue a three-year gap that ended in just over a minute against Joseph Holmes. Amedovski carries heavy hands but doesn’t use them particularly wisely, whilst there are huge holes in his defensive wrestling.
Joseph Pyfer (9-2)
DWCS prospect, Joseph Pyfer, will have a relatively straightforward fight to work. Pyfer’s powerful wrestling base offers a direct route to victory, but we could also see the American opt to pick holes at range. A fun introduction, regardless, for an interesting Middleweight prospect.
Amedovski vs Pyfer Prediction: Pyfer Submission Round 1
Amedovski carries heavy hands but doesn’t use them particularly wisely, whilst there are huge holes in his defensive wrestling. Pyfer’s powerful wrestling base offers a direct route to victory, but we could also see the American opt to replicate his crushing DWCS KO. A fun introduction, regardless, for an interesting Middleweight prospect.
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Tanner Boser vs Rodrigo Nascimento
Heavyweight (265)
Tanner Boser (20-8-1)
It feels like far longer than a year since we saw the mullet-totin, maple syrup-drinkin, Tanner Boser. While not a stellar performance by any account, Boser still returned to the W column against OSP with a fine finish. Nascimento is unlikely to be put away early, but the Brazilian’s immobility plays into Boser’s fleet feet and darting combinations.
Rodrigo Nascimento (8-1)
Nascimento is a physical specimen that could punish Boser if he backs himself onto the cage. Boser’s speed will regularly pip Nascimento to the punch, but it will only take the one trademark right-hook counter to change momentum. If Nascimento bundles his way to top control, the Brazilian owns a surprising submission arsenal.
Boser vs Nascimento Prediction: Boser Decision
Nascimento is unlikely to be put away early, but the Brazilian’s immobility plays into Boser’s fleet feet and darting combinations. This is Heavyweight, however, and it will only take one of Nascimento’s trademark right-hook counters to change momentum. Add in the Brazilian’s sneakily diverse submission arsenal, and the safety of backing Boser lies on shaky ground.
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Anthony Hernandez vs Marc-Andre Barriault
Middleweight (185)
Anthony Hernandez (9-2)
Solid in all departments, Hernandez tends to survive long enough in fights to break opponents with pressure. Flying into combinations, Hernandez creates regular opportunities through aggression. Barriault is dangerous in the clinch and freakishly durable, but it feels like better technical fundamentals are required to sleep Hernandez on the counter.
Marc-Andre Barriault (14-5)
Njokuani-aside, Barriault is an unbreakable brute who comes on strong late by virtue of grit. Hernandez tends to lose against stronger grapplers, an area that Barraiult has succeeded in the past but against humble opposition. Losing scraps to Jun Yong Park and Andrew Sanchez leads me to believe a similarly messy affair will deliver an L once again.
Hernandez vs Barriault Prediction: Hernandez Decision
Njokuani-aside, Barriault is an unbreakable brute who comes on strong late by virtue of grit. Hernandez tends to lose against stronger grapplers, an area that Barraiult has succeeded in the past but against humble opposition. Hernandez’s aggression creates regular opportunities in an ugly affair that Barriault likely lacks the fundamentals to punish Hernandez.
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