5 blockbuster fights to book in the UFC bantamweight division

#4. Cory Sandhagen vs. Marlon Vera

Despite being on a two-fight skid, Cory Sandhagen is still considered among the cream of the crop in the UFC bantamweight division, and rightfully so. He has gone toe-to-toe with some of the best fighters at 135 pounds and has performed admirably.

Having turned 30 just last month, 'The Sandman' is still improving and is just a few adjustments away from realizing his goal of being a UFC champion. In July last year, he came up short against the returning T.J. Dillashaw, losing via a narrow split decision to the former champion.

He undeniably landed harder and more effective shots throughout the fight, but couldn't shake Dillashaw's wrestling control against the fence. Despite busting up the two-time titleholder's face and causing significant ligament damage to his knee while attempting a submission, the judges didn't give Sandhagen the win.

A few months later, he slipped to a unanimous decision loss to Petr Yan after taking the fight on relatively short notice. The duo put on a striking masterclass, with Yan ultimately edging the American on points.

In a game of inches, Sandhagen has come very close to beating two former champions. Having lost his last two fights, the Colorado native will likely get someone ranked below him in his next outing. A fight against surging UFC bantamweight Marlon Vera appears to make sense for all parties involved.

First and foremost, it's an outstanding stylistic matchup. Both fighters are creative kickboxers with a wide array of tools in their arsenal. The two top-ranked bantamweights have excellent Brazilian jiu-jitsu as well, which will likely cancel out each other's ground skills, resulting in a stand-up affair between the two electric strikers.

Vera has truly come into his own in recent times. The Ecuadorian has never been finished in his professional career and has shown to have fight-ending power in his pin-point kicks. 'Chito' is fresh off a resounding win over Rob Font at UFC Vegas 53, where he dropped the tough Bostonian three times. He is the latest addition to the intriguing title mix atop the 135-pound weight class.

Cory Sandhagen vs. Marlon Vera is an automatic 'Fight of the Year' contender if the booking comes to fruition. If the matchmakers formalize the matchup, the bout should ideally headline a UFC Fight Night event.

Both fighters are in their prime, and with title implications on the line, we could witness one of the greatest fights in bantamweight history.

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#3. Petr Yan vs. T.J. Dillashaw

Both T.J. Dillashaw and Petr Yan have a legitimate claim to a title shot right now. It's always a tricky situation when two top contenders are almost equally deserving of a shot at gold. With so many new contenders on the rise at 135 pounds, a potential title eliminator between the duo could provide a clearer idea of the pecking order in the bantamweight division.

Dillashaw has enjoyed two championship reigns (2014-16 and 2017-19). He was stripped after testing positive for banned substances following his loss to Henry Cejudo back in 2019 and was subsequently handed a two-year suspension.

Dillashaw returned to action with a tough showing against Cory Sandhagen last year and has been clamoring for a championship opportunity ever since.

Meanwhile, former champion Petr Yan is likely kicking himself for throwing an illegal knee in his first fight with Aljamain Sterling. The disqualification loss unceremoniously saw the belt change hands. When the duo ran it back, 'Funk Master' squeezed out a decision victory to leave his Russian counterpart in a unique position, one that he never thought he'd find himself in.

Yan is now 0-2 against the reigning champion. While the second bout was a closely-contested affair – with UFC president Dana White even claiming that he thought 'No Mercy' deserved to win – he will likely need to return to winning ways before fighting for the title again.

With both fighters feeling like they're owed a title shot, they will be extra motivated going into a potential No.1 contender's bout. Petr Yan has even stated his admiration for T.J. Dillashaw previously and dreams of a fight against the American.