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UFC Fight Night is set to get going this weekend from the UFC Apex in Paradise, Las Vegas on Saturday, October 15 at 7 p.m. ET. There is a five-bout main card highlighted by a bantamweight showdown fight between Cub Swanson and Jonathan Martinez in the co-main event. The fight will air on ESPN+.
Swanson (28-12) will be making his bantamweight debut at 135 pounds, as the longtime featherweight is fresh off a TKO victory over Darrel Elkins in December. The veteran is at the twilight of his fighting career, looking to earn a win in a new weight class. Swanson has been the underdog in seven of his last eight fights, many counting out the 38-year-old.
Martinez (16-4) comes into this fight winning his last three in convincing fashion. His latest win, a decision victory over Vince Morales in May. Martinez has deadly knee and leg strikes, if he’s able to connect, they can slow down Swanson. He is also 4-1 in his last five fights. If he prevails here, up the bantamweight rankings he’ll go.
Jonathan Martinez was head-hunting in round two #UFCVegas5
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) August 2, 2020
( @ufc)pic.twitter.com/vgVS01bMVH
How to watch Cub Swanson vs. Jonathan Martinez
Date: Saturday, October 15
Fight time: Main card starts at 7 p.m.
Live stream: ESPN+ PPV
DraftKings Sportsbook Odds/Predictions
Swanson: +175
Martinez: -205
Splits: 70% of handle, 52% of bets on Martinez
It’s hard to not lean on Cub Swanson and the money line, but a new weight class could pose a few problems for the veteran. Martinez is no slouch as well and has been hot winning three fights in a row. Therefore, Martinez by knockout is a good play and taking the fight under 2.5 rounds. The technical expertise of Martinez should be on full display and will likely overwhelm Swanson. It’ll be a clash of two different UFC generations on Saturday night.