Kelvin Gastelum predicts 1st round KO over Robert Whittaker: ‘I’m expecting it not to even be close

[Deleted member 436105]

Weidman and Romero's wrestling are completely different. Weidman is a grinder who chains TDs, Romero seems to use his wresting pedigree primarily as a TD threat to setup his striking explosions. And when Romero does TD opponents, he isn't a grinder cause he conserves his energy. It's a smart approach and obviously works for him so it's not a knock on Romero, but it's definitely not the same kind of offensive wrestling Weidman employs

I called Gas' boxing crisp, accurate, quick with heavy hands and great timing. Never said anything about versatility. Not sure how that's "overrating" his boxing

Nobody is debating the differences in wrestling technique. Simple fact is Romero can get him down if he wanted. KG has average TD defense. Plus he’s a turtle off his back and Yoel has brutal finishing ability second probably to Rockhold.

 

[Mbowes]

https://www.mma-core.com/videos/Hen...ull_Fight_UFC_Fight_Night_143_Part_2/10279050

Nope...he was always moving and trying to recover. You don’t know what unanswered means

I have a strange feelin Gas takes it but that could just be me underestimating Taker as usual

Don’t underestimate taker he has a lot of wrestlemania wins. He does well on the bright stage. Also, if you’re having gas issues try to just eat a cleaner diet.

Either Gas 1st round KO or Whittaker wins easy UD imo. No shame in losing to either man. CARN KNUCKLES!!

Gas is a terrible matchup for Yoel. Iron chin, heavy hands, crisp accurate boxing, great timing, very quick, solid defensive wrestling. Gas just might be the single worst matchup for yoel at MW

Speed, footwork, kicks I favor Whitaker
Power, better fundamental boxing, and chin I favor Gastelum

I could see Gas winning but Whittaker is no joke, I do have concerns over his last 2 wars. He got fucked up by Romero. I think his best chance at winning is using kicks staying on the outside and trying to wrestle with Gas. If he tries to box him Gas will fuck him up badly.

 

[faustian]

Nobody is debating the differences in wrestling technique. Simple fact is Romero can get him down if he wanted. KG has average TD defense. Plus he’s a turtle off his back and Yoel has brutal finishing ability second probably to Rockhold.

Do you think Romero's gameplan would be to TD and control Gas on the ground? Cause I don't

 

[MadHouse]

i don't see that happening at all he is way to small for the division

 

[AndyHugMercury]

Bobby Knuckles will send Kelvin back to WW

Wtf Whittaker is a welterweight himself. Got KOd by Wonderboy who sent him to MW

 

[Jimmy Jazz]

I like kelvin's confidence, hope he wins. Whittaker isn't a bad striker tho, he won't be easy to put down. Ate those romero bombs like a champ. However, if kelvin hits him right on the botton... it won't take much. 1st rd ko is possible.

not a bad striker? He fooking head kicked the dude that gave Kelvin all he could handle.

 

[Jimmy Jazz]

I"m not sold on Gastelum. Fast hands, good power and great chin, but not any real depth to his game besides that.

Also, aside from Jacare, his entire MW run has been against guys who are past their prime, and I'm willing to believe what Jacare said about having a bad weight against Gastelum after seeing how he was able to turn up the intensity against Weidman in the second half of their fight.

what about Kelvin's wrestling and grappling?

 

[AP_RESURRECTION]

So many people are triggered into hating on him for his confidence. Others are impressed and are picking him based on it. The usual.

 

[jban]

Wtf Whittaker is a welterweight himself. Got KOd by Wonderboy who sent him to MW

Both Gastelum (5 foot 9), and Whittaker (5 feet 11 inches- bumped up to 6 feet), are average sized MW's.
They will be looking small next to guys like Adesanya and Costa. We already seen what Weidman did to
Gastelum. If Gastelum loses- i would like to see him at WW next.

 

[Deleted member 436105]

Do you think Romero's gameplan would be to TD and control Gas on the ground? Cause I don't

Why wouldn’t an Olympic wrestler try to outwrestle a smaller guy with average TDD?

 

[faustian]

Why wouldn’t an Olympic wrestler try to outwrestle a smaller guy with average TDD?

Cause he has very questionable cardio for a grinding fight and his TD accuracy is 32% while Gas' TD defense is 62%

 

[Deleted member 436105]

Cause he has very questionable cardio for a grinding fight and his TD accuracy is 32% while Gas' TD defense is 62%

Ok I see you are a fight metric slut. Never mind we can’t go anywhere on this debate

 

[faustian]

Ok I see you are a fight metric slut. Never mind we can’t go anywhere on this debate

Tacit concession accepted

 

[Deleted member 436105]

Tacit concession accepted

Naw. Just laughing at someone who races to the widely discredited fight metric for points. LOL@you believing Romero TD efficienciency is that bad

 

[faustian]

Naw. Just laughing at someone who races to the widely discredited fight metric for points. LOL@you believing Romero TD efficienciency is that bad

Dude Romero was soundly outwrestled by Brunson, and that was half a decade ago. He's 42 now and despite his Olympic pedigree, grinding out wins via wrestling simply isn't his MMA game. He simply doesn't have the cardio for it and his wrestling style was never a controlling one to begin with. Hendo was an Olympic wrestler but became strictly a headhunter in his 40s for similar reasons (even tho younger Hendo did have a controlling top game)

 

[McBlaze]

How do you think Kevin would do against Yoel? LOL

Whittaker hapes Gastelum 10 out of 10 times. Won't even be close.

 

[VinceArch]

Wtf Whittaker is a welterweight himself. Got KOd by Wonderboy who sent him to MW

Look where Robert is at. If he's a WW then that makes his championship run all the more impressive considering those he's fought and beat.

 

[Deleted member 436105]

Dude Romero was soundly outwrestled by Brunson, and that was half a decade ago. He's 42 now and despite his Olympic pedigree, grinding out wins via wrestling simply isn't his MMA game. He simply doesn't have the cardio for it and his wrestling style was never a controlling one to begin with. Hendo was an Olympic wrestler but became strictly a headhunter in his 40s for similar reasons (even tho younger Hendo did have a controlling top game)

What does Brunson have to do with this? He’s a massive MW. And Romero got him down and destroyed him. Plus KG won’t do that. I can’t remember the last time KG even shot or initiated any wrestling exchange.You keep bringing up Cardio and grinding style like Weidman doesn’t have bad conditioning. Yet he was still able to snatch single and other quick TDS on KG Speaking off, I recall KG gassed pretty hard by the third in that fight also. It’s not out of the realm that Yoel does some wild trip throw or ankle pick on KG and gnp his skull in. Don’t believe that 32% nonsense. Such a skewered stat. He went 10 rounds with no only the best defensive wrestler at MW, but probably the whole UFC. Romero has taken down pretty much anyone from Kennedy to Weidman with ease if he wanted to. He would obliterate KG in that department. And on the feet he’s not easy to hit cleanly while KG is fast but attacks on straight lines and is predictable. Not to mention his footwork is extremely flat

 

[EdmundsEmptyBankAccount]

https://www.mmamania.com/2019/1/23/...robert-whittaker-im-expecting-it-not-be-close

https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/1/...timacy-to-185-predicts-ko-of-robert-whittaker

“I’m predicting a first-round knockout,” Gastelum said (via MMA Fighting). “I’ve put in so much work and I feel so confident in my abilities and confident in what I’ve done in the sport that I’m predicting a first-round knockout. I know that if I clip them, anybody, I mean anybody in the world, not just Rob, anybody, when I cut my left hand in, he’s going down. But yeah, Rob has a lot of heart. I’m expecting a hard-fought fight, but at the same time, I’m so prepared for this opportunity that I’m expecting it not to even be close.”

 

[Phisher]

what about Kelvin's wrestling and grappling?

Yeah, what about it?

He was taken down multiple times by Magny before he was able to hurt Magny. He was taken down multiple times and controlled on the cage by Kennedy before Kennedy gassed. He was taken down and controlled by Jacare before Jacare gassed. Weidman took him down at will and owned him on the ground. He was even taken down by Uriah Hall.

Like I said, he's very good, but I'll be surprised if he's able to blow out Whittaker like a lot of people are expecting. If he does it, I'll gladly eat my words, but I just don't see it based on their respective MW resumes.