![](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2022/08/Marlon-Vera-def.-Dominick-Cruz-UFC-on-ESPN-41-05.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1)
The bantamweight division will be in the spotlight in February with a massive fight between Marlon Vera and Cory Sandhagen.
The UFC announced on Friday that Vera (20-7-1 MMA, 14-6 UFC) and Sandhagen (15-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC) will clash in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Feb. 18. The card takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.
🚨 BANGER ALERT 🚨@ChitoVeraUFC and @CorySandhagen will be taking center stage Saturday, Feb. 18th! pic.twitter.com/aFiJ56FUrq
— UFC (@ufc) December 23, 2022
Vera, 30, will attempt to build off a huge year for his career in 2022. “Chito” earned main event wins over Dominick Cruz and Rob Font, adding to a four-fight winning streak that also includes a knockout of UFC legend Frankie Edgar.
Sandhagen, 30, for his part, competed just once in 2022. After losing back-to-back fights in 2021, Sandhagen took 11 months off from the sport before returning in September with a main event doctor’s stoppage TKO win over Song Yadong at UFC Fight Night 210.
The latest UFC Fight Night lineup for Feb. 18 now includes:
- Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen
- Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Joe Solecki
- Clayton Carpenter vs. Juancamilo Ronderos
- Abus Magomedov vs. Gerald Meerschaert
- Gabriel Benitez vs. Jim Miller
- Philipe Lins vs. Ovince Saint Preux
- Erin Blanchfield vs. Taila Santos