Takashi Sato is favored against Ben Saunders at UFC on ESPN 3 on Saturday, April 27 in Sunrise, Florida. This event is one of four fights on the ESPN portion of the preliminary card. Saunders is 22-11-2 in his career, while Sato is 14-2 in his career. There are a total of six fights on the main card on ESPN+ at UFC on ESPN 3, with the headliner a bout between Ronaldo Souza and Jack Hermansson. There are also a total of seven fights on the preliminary card with four on ESPN and three on ESPN2. Let’s look at the bout between Saunders and Sato and UFC predictions.
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Ben Saunders (22-11-2, 8-8 UFC)
Saunders came into the UFC with a record of 5-0-2 and he has eight wins and eight losses in the UFC. In his last five fights, he has one win and four losses. He defeated Jake Ellenberger by TKO on June 1, 2018; while losing to Peter Sobotta by TKO, Alan Jouban by KO, Sérgio Moraes by submission, and Lyman Good by KO. Saunders has been a pro since 2004 and he has 10 wins by TKO/KO and seven by submission. He has 12 first round finishes.
Takashi Sato (14-2, UFC debut)
Sato is making his UFC debut this Saturday against Ben Saunders. In his career, his only two losses were against Kenta Takagi by KO and Glaico Franca by submission. Sato’s last win in his career was on October 21, 2018 where he defeated Matt Vaile by TKO. Sato has been a pro since 2013 and he has nine wins by TKO/KO and two by submission. He has nine first round finishes.
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Saunders 3.19 / Sato 0.00
Striking Accuracy: Saunders 50% / Sato 0%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Saunders 3.58/ Sato 0.00
Defense: Saunders 51% / Sato 0%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Saunders 0.22/ Sato 0.00
Takedown Accuracy: Saunders 40% / Sato 0%
Takedowns defended: Saunders 68% / Sato 0%
Submission average: Saunders 1.0 / Sato 0.0
UFC Predictions
Saunders is an underdog in this fight going against Sato because he is really struggling right now in the UFC. He has just one win in his last five fights, so it is hard to make much of a case for him. Saunders could be fighting to stay in the UFC, but motivation would seem to be the only edge he has in this fight. Sato is almost a 2-1 favorite in this fight and it is hard to argue. I will take the favored fighter in Sato to get the win via knockout in the third round and I also think taking the rounds under the total is worth a play as well.
UFC on ESPN 3 takes place at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida on Saturday, April 27 with six fights on the main card on ESPN+, headlined by Ronaldo Souza and Jack Hermansson and seven preliminary bouts, with four on ESPN and three on ESPN2.
Main Card (ESPN+)
Middleweight - Ronaldo Souza -200 vs. Jack Hermansson
Heavyweight - Greg Hardy -325 vs. Dmitrii Smoliakov
Welterweight - Alex Oliveira -185 vs. Mike Perry
Light Heavyweight - Glover Teixeira -120 vs. Ion Cu?elaba
Bantamweight - John Lineker -133 vs. Cory Sandhagen
Lightweight - Roosevelt Roberts -415 vs. Thomas Gifford
Preliminary card (ESPN)
Welterweight - Takashi Sato -190 vs. Ben Saunders
Heavyweight - Augusto Sakai -145 vs. Andrei Arlovski
Women's Strawweight - Virna Jandiroba -127 vs. Carla Esparza
Lightweight - Gilbert Burns -250 vs. Mike Davis
Early Preliminary card (ESPN2)
Lightweight - Jim Miller -145 vs. Jason Gonzalez
Women's Strawweight - Angela Hill -545 vs. Jodie Esquibel
Welterweight - Court McGee -170 vs. Dhiego Lima
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