Whittaker vs Gastelum – what you need to know

The prime-time event last week did not disappoint, as we saw two Brits win their respective bouts. A week on from that triumph we are back to the Apex in Las Vegas for yet another exciting card.

Reaper of Oz

The middleweight rankings changed significantly after Marvin Vettori’s victory last weekend and this bout between Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum could have a similar effect.

Winning 11 of his last 12, Robert Whittaker has been exceptional in the Octagon of late. His only defeat in this run came from the fists of the current middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. The Australian has secured his last four victories via decision, showing dominance and resilience throughout. Whittaker has a ruthless side to him, finishing seven opponents in the first round so far in his professional career.

Ending a poor run of form with a victory in February, Kelvin Gastelum could put himself back into title contention with a victory over the current no.1 contender. A versatile athlete, Gastelum has the ability to KO his opponents out as well as submitting them. Defensively he is yet to be beaten by TKO but has been finished twice via submission. Both athletes will be raring to go as this match up was postponed after it was originally scheduled for February 2019.

All-out attack

Jeremy Stephens and Drakkar Klose are both looking to bounce back from defeat in an All-American lightweight clash.

Returning to the lightweight division after 18 bouts at featherweight, Jeremy Stephens will be hoping to get back to what he does best – staying on his feet and controlling the bout. He has accumulated an impressive 19 TKOs and has only been finished six times in his 46-fight career so far.

Following his last bout, Drakkar Klose will be seeking redemption following a loss at the hands of Beneil Dariush in March last year. He will feel confident coming into this bout, having won seven of his last 10 and will be comfortable going three full rounds, as his previous six wins have come via decision. This bout will likely come down to who can take control early and punish their opponent.

Aggression is key

This flyweight bout between two promising American athletes, Tracey Cortez and Justine Kish, will make for an interesting spectacle.

Tracy Cortez tasted defeat in her first professional bout but has since won her last eight, including a 2-0 start in the UFC. She has won her previous three via unanimous decision and has looked dominant in those bouts. If she can maintain her aggressive approach, she will be confident heading into this one.

After a terrific 6-0 start to her professional career, Justine Kish will look to get her mojo back after losing three of her last four. Only three of her fights have ended in finishes, two wins via submission, one defeat via submission, and the other seven have come down to decisions. To stand a chance against the in-form Cortez, Kish will need to match her aggression. The first round could be a massive factor in deciding the outcome of this one.