Raphael Assuncao vs Cory Sandhagen Expert UFC Picks - 8/17/2019
Raphael Assuncao vs Cory Sandhagen
UFC 241
Honda Center
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Raphael Assuncao (27-6-0) will battle Cory Sandhagen (11-1-0) at UFC 241 in Honda Center on Saturday, August 17, 2019. The opening odds have Assuncao priced at +165 while Sandhagen is at -205.
Raphael Assuncao comes into the cage with 27 victories and 6 losses. The Alpharetta, GA fighter is 37 years old, steps on the scale at 135 lbs and stands 5'5" tall. He has a 66.5" reach and fights in the bantamweight division. Assuncao has a total of 14 fights in the UFC. The last time he walked into the cage, Assuncao took a loss in the first round against Marlon Moraes by submission. In the bantamweight division, he is 7th in strikes with 742 and 89th out of all fighters in the UFC.
When it comes to strike accuracy, Raphael Assuncao is sitting at 363rd among athletes in the UFC and 45th in the bantamweight division landing 45.9% of the shots he has thrown. He also has a total of 13 takedowns which has him sitting at 123rd among athletes in the UFC and 18th in the bantamweight division. Assuncao completes 33.3% of his takedown tries which has him sitting at 296th among athletes in the UFC and 41st of all athletes in his division. He is sitting at 6th of all athletes in his division and 64th among athletes in the UFC for significant strikes with 613. Of those significant strikes, 341 of them were pointed at the head while 87 of them were pointed at the body which has him sitting at 7th and 12th respectively of all athletes in his division.
At UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier, he came away with the win via unanimous decision in the 3rd round when he faced Rob Font. In the fight before that, Assuncao came away with the win in the 3rd round when he faced Matthew Lopez at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis by KO/TKO.
Stepping into the cage for this matchup, Cory Sandhagen has a total of 11 wins and 1 loss. The 27-year-old fighting out of Aurora, CO measures 5'11" tall and weighs in at 135 lbs. The Elevation Fight Team fighter competes in the bantamweight division and has a 70.0" reach. He has earned 3 fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Cory Sandhagen won by unanimous decision when he squared up with John Lineker in his most recent fight at UFC Fight Night - Sunrise 2019. When discussing strikes, Sandhagen is 309th out of all fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and 43rd of all fighters in the division with 212.
When discussing strike accuracy, he is landing 62.7% of the shots he has taken which has him at 6th in the bantamweight division and 79th in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. With 146 significant strikes, he is sitting at 309th in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and 45th of all fighters in the division. Sandhagen is sitting at 43rd of all fighters in the division for significant strikes pointed at the body with 23 and 40th for significant strikes directed at the head with 112. At UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw, he won via submission in the first round when he squared up with Mario Bautista. In the fight before that, Sandhagen won in the second round when he squared up with Iuri Alcantara at UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick by stoppage.
When looking at this fight between Raphael Assuncao and Cory Sandhagen, you will want to know how these two fighters measure up to each other. Cory Sandhagen is the fighter with more accuracy, having landed 62.7% of his strikes which tells us Raphael Assuncao is going to want to want to be careful going toe-to-toe. When comparing measurements, let's start by taking a look at Raphael Assuncao who is 5'5" and the fighter on the other side of the cage 5'11". When comparing reach, Assuncao extends 66.5" while Sandhagen measures out at 70.0" meaning Assuncao will want to make sure he cuts the distance so Cory Sandhagen won't be able to use the reach to his advantage. Assuncao is the older fighter checking in at 37 years old while Sandhagen is the more youthful fighter by checking in at 27 years old. Concerning experience in the Octagon, Assuncao has 14 fights which means he has more UFC experience while Sandhagen has fought 3 battles in the Octagon. With respect to overall MMA experience, Assuncao has 27 wins and 6 losses while Cory Sandhagen is the owner of an overall MMA record that boasts 11 wins and 1 loss.
Who will win tonight's UFC match against the spread?
Tony's Pick: Take Cory Sandhagen (-205)
Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here
Read more articles by Tony Sink
Most Recent UFC Predictions
- Karol Rosa vs Vanessa Melo Predictions, Picks, UFC 251 Odds
- Amanda Ribas vs Paige VanZant Predictions, Picks, UFC 251 Odds
- Jessica Andrade vs Rose Namajunas Predictions, Picks, UFC 251 Odds
- Martin Day vs Davey Grant Predictions, Picks, UFC 251 Odds
- Makwan Amirkhani vs Danny Henry Predictions, Picks, UFC 251 Odds
- Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos vs Muslim Salikhov Predictions, Picks, UFC 251 Odds
- Petr Yan vs Jose Aldo Predictions, Picks, UFC 251 Odds
- Alexander Volkanovski vs Max Holloway Predictions, Picks, UFC 251 Odds
- Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal Predictions, Picks, UFC 251 Odds
- Jordan Griffin vs Youssef Zalal Predictions, Picks, UFC Vegas 4 Odds