Marlon Vera vs Davey Grant
June 16, 2021 10:45 pm EDT
The Line: Davey Grant +172 / Marlon Vera -202
(Get latest betting odds)
Marlon Vera and Davey Grant fight Saturday in UFC Vegas 29 at the UFC Apex. Vera enters this fight with a 16-7-1 record and is winning 50 percent of his fights by submission. Grant enters this fight with a 13-4 record and has won 62 percent of his fights by submission.
Vera has won six of his last eight fights and is coming off an December loss to Jose Aldo. Vera is averaging 3.66 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 49 percent. He is averaging 0.78 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 37 percent.
Vera is coming off a decision loss at UFC Vegas 17 where he landed 92 total strikes. It was a more competitive bout than the scorecards indicate, but Vera now hopes to avoid back-to-back losses for the second time in his career.
Vera is an athletic, jumpy fighter who is tough to get comfortable against on the feet and he throws compact strikes with pop behind them. Vera is a black belt in BJJ and he’s never been finished in his career despite six losses. An exciting fighter who is tough to finish, Vera gives himself a chance to win every time he steps in the octagon. This will be Vera’s fourth career fight in Las Vegas.
Grant has won four of his last six fights and is coming off a March win over Jonathan Martinez. Grant is averaging 3.93 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy percentage of 47 percent. He is averaging 2.30 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 45 percent.
Grant is coming off a knockout win at UFC Vegas 21 where he earned performance of the night. He has earned performance bonuses in his last two fights. Grant now looks for four straight wins for the first time since 2011-12.
Grant comes from a boxing and kickboxing background, and he’s quite proven on the canvas where he has eight submission victories. He’s never been submitted in his career.
A purple belt in BJJ and solid takedown defense, Grant is 4-3 under the UFC banner. This will be Grant’s third career fight in Las Vegas.
This is an obvious rematch from UFC Fight Night 84, a fight Grant won in a decision. Grant dominated the fight, landing 112 total strikes and eating just 28 strikes. With that said, Vera is the better fighter here overall with more pop in his strikes and a higher level of BJJ background. I know Grant is on a tear right now and there’s some hype behind him, but Vera should win this fight if we’re being honest.
Give me Vera and the reasonable juice.
