Flyweight bout: Jonathan Lopez (+140) vs Joseph Sandoval (-180) Fight Breakdown: The Legacy FC 22 main card features a flyweight scrap between Plainview’s Jonathan Lopez and two time UFC veteran Joseph Sandoval. Lopez is currently the underdog at +140 ($100 to win $140) while Sandoval is the favorite at -180 ($180 to win $100) at Several Bookmakerss. Jonathan Lopez (4-1 MMA, 0-0 Legacy FC) is riding a four fight win streak, after suffering his first loss in his first ever professional mixed martial arts bout. With five professional fights and four wins within a single year, Jonathan Lopez has quickly put himself on the map in the flyweight division. Joseph Sandoval will be his toughest challenge to date. While Sandoval may be a step up in competition, Lopez isn’t too far behind. Training out of the Academy of Mixed Martial Arts in Plainview, TX under the tutelage of Leonel Vasquez, Lopez is training hard for this bout and is eager to add a UFC veteran to the W column on his resume. Jonathan Lopez is a dedicated fighter but he is not yet specifically talented in any area of mixed martial arts. At only 22 years of age and only a years worth of professional fighting experience, he has the time to sharpen his tools. Coming off a first round rear naked choke submission victory only two months ago, Jonathan Lopez looks to get back in there and make a bigger statement. Joseph Sandoval (6-4 MMA, 0-2 Legacy FC) made his UFC debut against Walel Watson with an undefeated record of six wins and no losses. Watson finished him with strikes only a minute into the very first round. In his second bout in the UFC, Sandoval faced now-retired Canadian bantamweight Nick Denis. Denis also finished him, this time less than half a minute into the fight. The two consecutive losses were the first two of Sandoval’s professional mixed martial arts career but they were enough to get him cut from the promotion. Since then, he has signed with Legacy FC and has gone 0-2 there, as well, finding himself on a woeful four fight losing streak. Since being released from the UFC, Sandoval has dropped from bantamweight to the flyweight division, where he continues to look for his first win. Going from the high of a six fight undefeated winning streak and getting signed by the UFC to getting knocked out in two fights in a combined time of under a minute and a half, getting cut, then dropping a weight class, and getting finished twice more must have left an incredibly bad taste in Sandoval’s mouth. If he’s not already on the edge of severe depression, he should be very focused on this fight and very hungry to get back to his old winning ways. Though, it is worth noting that his six wins came against very poor opponents. Joseph Sandoval is fairly good with his muay thai. He has good movement, circles well, and throws decent combinations, though they sometimes don’t land and he follows through with them, regardless. His takedown defense is okay. When taken down, he is also okay at getting back up to his feet. Fight Prediction:After losing against tough opponents in his past four bouts, Joseph Sandoval gets a bit of a break against Jonathan Lopez. I think his experience is the best thing Sandoval has going for him. He has now been finished in four straight fights and it is always tough to give full support to a fighter in such a spot. Lopez isn’t going to offer Sandoval anything he hasn’t already seen. As long as his chin isn’t completely shot, he should be able to out-strike Lopez en route to a close decision win. Gabe’s Pick:Joseph Sandoval via Majority Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-29) Gabe’s Recommended Play:Joseph Sandoval -180 for .5u — I really wanted to fade Sandoval here but I don’t think this is the spot for it. Both guys suck but I think Sandoval finally bounces back with a W here.
