Kelvin Gastelum vs. Jared Cannonier has all the ingredients to be an explosive fight Saturday night.
And with Cannonier entering as the No. 3-ranked middleweight and Gastelum ninth, this clash has all the ramifications of being a pivotal matchup, too. Gastelum and Cannonier headline the main event of UFC Fight Night live from Las Vegas.
Gastelum will be trying to shake off losing four of his last five fights including a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of Robert Whittaker in April.
The 29-year-old vows that mixed martial arts fans will get the best version of himself Saturday night, which will mark his 20th UFC fight.
“It was probably one of the best camps that I’ve ever had in my life,” Gastelum told DAZN News earlier in the week. “No one has ever fought this version of myself in the UFC as of yet and I’m excited to showcase it.”
Cannonier is also coming off a loss to Whittaker but that defeat came back in October. Prior to that, the 37-year-old had won three straight fights.
Will Gastelum indeed show the best version of himself in the Octagon with a big win or does Cannonier inch even closer to a possible middleweight title shot?
Gastelum stepped onto the scale and registered 186 pounds Friday. Cannonier tipped the scale at 185 pounds.
BetMGM has installed Cannonier as a slight favorite at -150, meaning a $150 bet can land you $100 if he wins. Gastelum is a +125 underdog, spelling that a $100 wager can net you $125 if he gets the victory.
The UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum main card launches at 10 p.m. ET/3 a.m. BST with the headliners expected to make their walks to the Octagon at approximately 12:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. BST. Although that depends on how long the earlier fights run.
In the United States, the UFC Fight Night card can be seen via ESPN and ESPN+.
The event can be seen on BT Sport 1 in the UK.
In Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain, the card can be seen on DAZN. Click here for more information on DAZN subscriptions.
The UFC Apex in Las Vegas will play host to Gastelum vs. Cannonier. This marks Gastelum's third straight fight at the venue. Cannonier will be fighting at the site for the first time.
Main card