The UFC will likely be holding its final Fight Night card in the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 17. The UFC has confirmed that it will once again start holding fights in packed venues from April 25 when UFC 261 will take place.
An exciting middleweight fight between former champ Robert Whittaker and former title challenger Kelvin Gastelum will headline this card at the UFC Apex Center. The winner could very well push for a title fight next with champ Israel Adesanya.
The UFC has put together an exciting fight card for April 17. We take a look at three exciting fights on this card and our MMA experts share their predictions.
Whittaker vs. Gastelum
Robert Whittaker vs. Kelvin Gastelum was scheduled to take place in the past but the fight never happened. The two of them get another chance to do battle, provided both of them can make it to the middle of the Octagon. Bet365 has Whittaker as the heavy betting favorite with odds of 1.33 while Gastelum is the underdog with odds of 3.00.
We side with the bookmakers and agree that Whittaker is a favorite to win this fight but we disagree with the betting odds. Kelvin Gastelum has shown that he can stand and trade with the best like he did with Israel Adesanya and has also shown that he can wrestle when he wants to.
What works to Whittaker’s advantage is that he has a lot more experience going five rounds and if the fight progresses past the third round, it will certainly favour Whittaker. The former champ is also very good with winning rounds and taking the fight by decision. If Gastelum is looking to win, his best attempt is going to be a KO which is a tough thing to do against the Aussie Whittaker.
We think that Whittaker will outpoint Gastelum and win this fight. If Gastelum has a poor weight cut and is not in the best of shape, then Whittaker has a chance of finishing the fight.
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Stephens vs. Klose
The co-main event will see Jeremy Stephens step up to lightweight and throw down with the dangerous Drakkar Klose. This is an interesting fight for both men as they are both coming off losses. Klose does not lose too often as he has a 11-2-1 record and hence it is a bit surprising to see him as the betting underdog with odds of 1.66 while Stephens is the favorite with odds of 2.25.
Klose lost his last fight against Beneil Dariush in March 2020. It was also the first time that Klose was finished in the UFC. He will be very keen to come back with a win and will want it to be in impressive fashion. Stephen’s last fight was in May 2020 when he lost to Calvin Kattar who finished him.
Expect this fight to be a slug fest as both men like to stand and trade. It could come down to who has the better chin and Stephens might edge out Klose in this department. However, we would put our money on Klose for this one.
Alhassan vs. Jacob Malkoun
Abdul Razak Alhassan was on a tear in the UFC before his personal troubles forced him to take a break. His return in 2020 to the UFC was disastrous as he suffered two losses on the trot. He is looking to redeem himself in 2021 and is the betting favorite with odds of 1.33 against Jacob Malkoun who has odds of 3.40. We think Alhassan is too good a fighter to not bounce back. We would put our money on Alhassan to win by KO.
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