How the public is betting Song Yadong vs. Marlon Vera [UPDATE]

Update: Song Yadong defeats Marlon Vera by unanimous decision. Both fighters landed over 100 significant strikes in an action-packed match, but Yadong won 29-28 on all three scorecards. Vera was unhappy and refused to shake hands after the decision was announced.

Saturday, 1:30 p.m. update: We’re not seeing much change in the Yadon-Vera split. 51 percent of handle and 68 percent of total bets are on Yadong with five hours remaining until the card gets underway.

Two ranked featherweights will be a part of the main card at UFC on ESPN 8 tonight as Song Yadong faces Marlon Vera at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

Yadong has a gaudy 15-1-1 record in MMA, and has yet to be defeated in a UFC octagon with a 4-0-1 record. When his coach Uriah Faber took to the scales on Friday afternoon at the weigh-in, it was thought there was an issue with his visa to fight, but it appears that’s been handled. The Chinese fighter was a Wushu student before finding mixed martial arts, and is the #14 ranked featherweight entering the bout.

Vera has a 9-4 UFC record, winning five in a row ahead of Saturday’s matchup. The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America alum is 15-5-1 in MMA, and is ranked #15 in the featherweight division. 57% of his wins in the octagon are by submission, and he’ll likely look to take this fight to the mat.

As of now Yadong is a -200 favorite, but it’s expected to go the distance as he’s not a knockout or submission specialist. He’s also a bit of a public favorite, with 69% of the bets but only 57% of the cash behind him. Vera will be the underdog, but the bettors think even if he’s to win the most likely outcome here according to the bettors.

Here are the betting splits at DraftKings Sportsbook for Song Yadong vs. Marlon Vera at UFC on ESPN 8 on May 16th:

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