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One-time UFC middleweight title challenger Kelvin Gastelum believes Robert Whittaker has what it takes to score an upset and regain the division crown from Israel Adesanya tonight at UFC 271.
Gastelum (17-8) has a unique perspective on tonight’s pay-per-view main event inside the Toyota Center in Houston, Tex. The tenth-ranked fighter is one of the few fighters in the division that has actually faced both current champion Adesanya (21-1) and former weight class king Whittaker (23-5). However, the results were quite different in each fight.
In his bout with “The Last Stylebender,” in April of 2019, Gastelum pushed Adesanya to his very limits. Hurting the resident of New Zealand several times and remains the only fighter that has truly come close to handing the champ his first loss in the middleweight division. Yet, when he faced Whittaker two years later, he was definitively out-pointed over five rounds for a unanimous decision loss.
That experience against “Reaper” and his ability to do things that Adesanya was unable to do is why the American believes Whittaker has a real chance to become a two-time middleweight champion at UFC 271.
Kelvin Gastelum says Robert Whittaker performed at a ‘different level’ against him in April
“After my last fight with Rob Whittaker, I’ve never been that dazed, kind of scratching my head like, ‘Man, this guy was really better than me today,’” Gastelum said during an appearance on Friday’s UFC 271 weigh-in show. “And I really didn’t see an opening, and he was just much better. I just had never felt that in a fight before and not even against Adesanya did he make me feel that way. I think Robert Whittaker was just operating on a different level, and I think if he can continue operating at that level, then I think he may be able to take it.”
Gastelum outlines Whittaker gameplan to beat Israel Adesanya
Robert Whittaker Israel Adesanya Ufc 243 Official Weigh Ins
In Whittaker and Adesanya’s first fight in October of 2019, the Australian fought recklessly, and admittedly with too much emotion. It cost him dearly as the Nigerian picked him apart en route to a second-round technical knockout win, and earned the middleweight belt. Gastelum explained Whittaker must fight far more measured the second time around. If he can do that and mix in some wrestling, he has what it takes to dethrone the reigning weight class king.
“He needs to pick his shots well. Not leap and jump in there like he did last time,” said Gastelum. “Adesanya is a master at managing distance and controlling distance, and so he needs to be careful with jumping in and leaping in like he did last time, but pick his shots. I think he’s gonna be a little bit faster, I think he has the right tools to beat Adesanya and maybe mix in a little bit more wrestling, as well.”
“If he mixes it up and mixes in his wrestling, I think he can be successful. I think he can open up a lot of doors if he uses his wrestling.”
UFC 271 goes down tonight, Feb. 12, from inside the Toyota Center in Houston. The event kicks off at 6 pm ET with preliminary action. The main card pay-per-view — for $74.99 — follows at 10 pm ET exclusively on ESPN+.
Who is your pick for Whittaker vs Adesanya 2?
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