UFC Vegas 34: Jared Cannonier vs. Kelvin Gastelum Picks and Predictions

Jared Cannonier and Kelvin Gastelum face off in a middleweight showdown for the main event of UFC Vegas 34 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Cannonier is currently ranked 3rd in the division while Gastelum is ranked 9th. 

Jared “The Killa Gorilla” Cannonier comes into this fight with a 13-5 record overall and he has won three of his last four fights. The one loss during that stretch for Cannonier came in his last fight against Robert Whittaker. Cannonier was outstruck 69-53 and that led to the unanimous decision defeat. Cannonier is averaging 3.70 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.09 significant strikes per minute. Cannonier likes to keep the fight on the feet and he is averaging only 0.16 takedowns every 15 minutes. Cannonier also stops 54 percent of his opponents takedown attempts. The last three wins by Cannonier have been by knockout and there is no doubt that he is going to hunt for that early.

On the other side of this fight is Kelvin Gastelum who sits with a 17-7 record overall but he has lost three of his last four fights. In Gastelum’s last fight against Robert Whittaker, he really struggled being outstruck 150-62 and that led to the unanimous decision loss. Gastelum was also taken down four times in that fight. The last two wins for Gastelum have come by decision. Gastelum is averaging 3.52 significant strikes per minute while absorbing 3.24 significant strikes per minute. Gastelum often likes to get the fight to the ground and he is averaging 1.16 successful takedowns every 15 minutes but is only successful on 37 percent of her takedown attempts. Gastelum also stops 62 percent of his opponents takedown attempts.