UFC Vegas 34: Jared Cannonier vs. Kelvin Gastelum Main Event Picks

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has a jam-packed schedule and this Saturday we are getting what should be a very entertaining middleweight fight between Jared Cannonier and Kelvin Gastelum. Here’s a complete preview, including updated UFC odds and our betting pick.

Jared Cannonier vs. Kelvin Gastelum

UFC Middleweight Main Event Bout

Saturday, August 21, 2021 - 11:15 PM EDT at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas

In the main event of the evening, Jared Cannonier battles Kelvin Gastelum. UFC Vegas 34 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas . With plenty of betting lines and markets currently available, let’s attempt to find some value for our UFC picks on Saturday’s main event.

Jared Cannonier. Steven Ryan/Getty Images/AFP

Jared Cannonier

Introduction, Background and UFC Career

It's no coincidence that Jared Cannonier is nicknamed 'The Killa Gorilla.' Eleven of Cannonier's 13 wins as a pro were via knockout or submission and he's not afraid of fighting the very best in the UFC. Cannonier has faced the likes of Glover Teixeira, Jan Blachowicz, Dominick Reyes, Anderson Silva, Jack Hermansson and Robert Whittaker and his UFC losses all came up against champions or former title challengers so no one can question his setbacks.

Cannonier has fought as a heavyweight and light heavyweight in the past and in 2018 he cut down to 185 lbs to make the middleweight limit. This helps explain why he's 3-1 as a middleweight with three wins by KO or TKO. In his last fight, he lost a unanimous decision against Whittaker at UFC 254 on October 24th.

Born:March 16th, 1984Age:37Country:United StatesHeight:6’0?Weight:185 lbsReach:77?Stance:SwitchAssociation:MMA LabClass:MiddleweightRecord:13-5

Stats

Method of VictorySignificant StrikesTakedowns9 wins by KO/TKO3.70 Landed33% Accuracy2 wins by Submission3.09 Absorbed54% Defended2 wins by Decision

Octagon Strengths

Former AFC Heavyweight ChampionBattle-testedDecent strikerMakes excellent use of leg kicks

Octagon Weaknesses

Non-existent grappling offense

Kelvin Gastelum. Steven Ryan/Getty Images/AFP

Kelvin Gastelum

Introduction, Background and UFC Career

A former The Ultimate Fighter winner at welterweight, Kelvin Gastelum is a current middleweight star who has honed his skills over time. Gastelum joined the UFC as a professional with a 4-0 record at age 21 and he doesn't enter the octagon unless it's against high-level competitors.

Gastelum, who was born and raised in San Jose, California of Mexican descent, began his martial arts journey through a wrestling gym. His 5-0 record on the Mexican and Arizona MMA circuits earned him the opportunity on the UFC’s reality show, The Ultimate Fighter: Team Sonnen vs. Team Jones and he became the youngest winner in the popular show's history.

Kelvin Gastelum is a high-level striker with a robust grappling base and like Cannonier, he's faced some of the very best in the UFC, including Uriah Hall, Tyron Woodley, Nate Marquardt, Neil Magny, Vitor Belfort, Chris Weidman, Michael Bisping, Ronaldo Souza, Israel Adesanya, Darren Till and Robert Whittaker. Like Cannonier, in his last fight he lost against Whittaker via unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 24 on April 17th.

Born:October 24th, 1991Age:29Country:United StatesHeight:5’9?Weight:185 lbsReach:71?Stance:SouthpawAssociation:Kings MMAClass:MiddleweightRecord:16-7-1

Stats

Method of VictorySignificant StrikesTakedowns6 wins by KO/TKO3.70 Landed33% Accuracy4 wins by Submission3.09 Absorbed54% Defended6 wins by Decision

Octagon Strengths

Power striker with a laid-back approachStrong takedown defenseOver 75% of his professional fights have taken place in the UFC

Octagon Weaknesses

Has a reach disadvantagehttps://youtu.be/RPL94oVSccU

Prediction

Cannonier isn’t a counter puncher, so Gastelum should fight at a close range and utilize his jabbing techniques. Gastelum's durability is proven, as he’s never been finished via knockout and he can have a scrap with Cannonier and survive. Cannonier's focus should be on his striking output, especially his jab, as he has no grappling offense. Gastelum is a complete martial artist and Cannonier successfully defends just 54 percent of his opponent's takedown attempts. Cannonier will be in trouble if Gastelum can chain together takedown attempts out in the open, far from the fence. Gastelum's striking, grappling and cardio are superior and also keep in mind that Cannonier has never fought beyond three rounds. I'm targeting the value with Gastelum.

UFC Pick: (visit our Sportsbook Review)

*The pick reflects the line at the moment the writer made the play, the odds at the beginning of this article show the live line movement. Since the lines might vary, don’t forget to refer back to our live odds.