Robert Whittaker vs Kelvin Gastelum is scheduled as the main event for UFC Vegas 24. Gastelum will be looking to take out the No. 1 ranked contender in the middleweight class. Whittaker has opened as the betting favorite, and he’s been in solid form recently, so he looks like a safe betting option to win this weekend, most likely by way of a unanimous decision.
The main event for UFC Vegas 24 this weekend features a middleweight bout of Robert Whittaker vs Kelvin Gastelum. Whittaker is the N0. 1 ranked contender in the middleweight division, while Gastelum is currently ranked at No. 8. Top sites in NJ for online sports favor Whittaker since he’s ranked higher than Gastelum and also because he’s looked sharp recently. The last time we saw Whittaker was when he secured a unanimous decision victory against Jared Cannonier on October 24, 2020. That win sparked a winning streak that he’ll be looking to extend this weekend against Gastelum. NJ’s top MMA betting site is backing Whittaker due to his superior striking skills, but there’s decent betting value if you roll with the underdog for this match. UFC betting sites in NJ have Gastelum listed at money line odds of around +210, which would be a decent value bet. Gastelum last fought against Ian Heinisch, and although he won that match, he had been on a three-fight losing skid, which is probably why the top sportsbooks favor Whittaker to win. Whittaker is a former UFC champion, so he should handle business against a fluttering opponent like Gastelum. Whittaker mixes in good grappling skills to go along with his striking, and because Gastelum’s best chance for victory against Whittaker would be on the floor, I think Whittaker gets the win. He has excellent takedown defense, which will limit what Gastelum can do against him. Whittaker also has a size and reach advantage over Gastelum, which could play a big role in this match’s outcome. Although, it’s worth noting that Gastelum is capable of surprising crowds with hard-hitting strikes from time to time. It’s not a terrible idea if you want to roll with Gastelum for the betting value, but I don’t think he’ll be able to hang with Whittaker. Check out the NJ online sportsbook reviews for the best places to bet on this match and a look at the best odds and markets available. For my money, I’ll take Whittaker to win on points, which Fanduel has listed at +130 odds.
Gastelum is a good all-around fighter, but I believe that Whittaker’s the better fighter. He has a good blend of wrestling and striking skills that he can use to wreak havoc on Gastelum. If this fight goes the distance, Whittaker should win on points. My prediction: Whittaker wins by unanimous decision.
