Cory Sandhagen vs Mario Bautista Prediction & Betting Tips - UFC 329
MMA - UFC 329
New customers only | Commercial content | 18+ age limit | T&Cs apply
by Geoffrey Ejiga | in UFC Predictions
Prepare for a bantamweight title eliminator this Saturday as Cory Sandhagen and Mario Bautista run it back in the co-featured 135-pound bout at UFC 329. Seven years after their first meeting, both men are chasing a title shot. With Sandhagen the far more battle-tested fighter and Bautista's takedown defense a proven liability, our prediction backs The Sandman to win.
Sandhagen enters looking to rebound from a tough championship bid. The No. 4-ranked contender dropped a five-round unanimous decision to then-champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 320 in October 2025. That leaves him 1-2 in his last three, though his only other recent loss came against the elite Umar Nurmagomedov.
His rangy, technical striking makes him a nightmare for anyone in the division, and he holds a psychological edge, having submitted Bautista with a first-round armbar in their 2019 meeting. Bautista, meanwhile, arrives with real momentum. The No. 8 contender bounced back from his own loss to Nurmagomedov with a second-round rear-naked choke of Vinicius Oliveira in February 2026.
His run to relevance included a split-decision win over former featherweight king José Aldo, and he insists he's a completely different fighter from the debutant who lost in 2019. The concern for Bautista, however, is on the mat. Against Nurmagomedov he was taken down 11 times, a glaring vulnerability Sandhagen can exploit.
Limited Offer. Currently at Stake
Cory Sandhagen - Mario Bautista Key Points
- Cory Sandhagen defeated Mario Bautista by first-round armbar submission in their 2019 first meeting, which was Bautista's UFC debut.
- Sandhagen is the considerable favourite according to betting odds.
- Bautista was taken down 11 times (on 14 attempts) in his 2025 loss to Umar Nurmagomedov, exposing clear grappling vulnerabilities.
- Sandhagen has faced a murderers' row of competition, sharing the cage with multiple former or current champions.
Limited Offer. Currently at Stake
Our Cory Sandhagen vs Mario Bautista Prediction
This rematch favors the more battle-tested veteran. Bautista has genuinely evolved, and his win over José Aldo proves he belongs among the contenders. But his takedown defense remains a real question mark, and Sandhagen has operated at a higher level of competition for years.
Whether The Sandman chooses to pick Bautista apart from range or drag him into the deep water where he tapped him in 2019, he has more paths to victory. Expect Sandhagen's experience and craft to tell. Hence, our Cory Sandhagen vs Mario Bautista prediction is that Cory Sandhagen wins.
Get up to €100 to bet on the Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista game
You can get yourself up to €100 in matched bets for the World Cup match between Cory Sandhagen and Mario Bautista when you join Betway. To get the free bet, your first accumulator bet needs to be a losing one. If your first bet wins, then you won't get the free bet, but you'll have your winnings for further fun on UFC 329!
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
