UFC 234: Whittaker vs Gastelum Prediction and Info Thread

[tokeweed]

Date: Saturday, February 9
Preliminary Card (ESPN+): 22:00 BTC / 2pm PST / 5pm EST
Preliminary Card (ESPN): 00:00 BTC / 4pm PST / 7pm EST
Main Card (PPV): 2:00 BCT / 6pm PST / 9pm EST
Live Streams: http://www.fìrstrow.eu/




Main Card (PPV)

Robert Whittaker (20-4) vs. Kelvin Gastelum (15-3) (Middleweight Championship)
Israel Adesanya (15-0) vs. Anderson Silva (34-8) (Middleweight)
Rani Yahya (26-9) vs. Ricky Simon (14-1) (Bantamweight)
Montana De La Rosa (9-4) vs. Nadia Kassem (5-0) (Women's Flyweight)
Jimmy Crute (9-0) vs. Sam Alvey (33-11) (Light Heavyweight)

Preliminary Card (ESPN)

Devonte Smith (9-1) vs. Dong Hyun Ma (16-8-3) (Lightweight)
Shane Young (12-4) vs. Austin Arnett (16-5) (Featherweight)
Kai Kara-France (18-7) vs. Raulian Paiva (18-1) (Flyweight)
Teruto Ishihara (10-6-2) vs. Kyung Ho Kang (14-8) (Bantamweight)

Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)

Lando Vannata (9-3-2) vs. Marcos Rosa (6-4) (Lightweight)
Jalin Turner (7-4) vs. Callan Potter (17-7) (Lightweight)
Wuliji Buren (9-5) vs. Jonathan Martinez (9-2) (Bantamweight)

Other

- Ryan Spann was expected to face Jim Crute at the event. However on January 25, it was reported that Spann was forced to pull out due to a hand injury and was replaced by Sam Alvey.

- Alex Gorgees was expected to face Jalin Turner at the event. However, it was reported on January 27, that Gorgees was pulled from the card for an undisclosed reason and he was replaced by Callan Potter.

Thanks to the Puertorican for letting me use this content.

[TravelMug]

I think Whittaker will win by late stoppage. No disrespect to Gastelum but Robert has fought one the best in that division, not only once but twice against Yoel Romero. He is in the zone right now and can be seen as unbeatable.

Interesting to see Adesanya vs Silva. Israel is like a copy cat of a young Anderson, but Israel is very cocky. So let's see how Anderson will perform against this prospect.

[bbc.reporter]

Anderson should retire, reckon. He has nothing to bring and show in the octagon anymore. He is old.

@Travelmug. However, Anderson was also cocky. Watch his fight versus Chris Weidman hehehe.

[peter0425]

Anderson should retire, reckon. He has nothing to bring and show in the octagon anymore. He is old.

I definitely agree that Anderson should retire at this point. He is already past his prime and there's no need to damage his reputation by fighting again. He don't need to proved anything and he is no longer relevant as new and upcoming fighters are rising. He is just being used as stepping stone.

[NavI_027]

I think Whittaker will win by late stoppage. No disrespect to Gastelum but Robert has fought one the best in that division, not only once but twice against Yoel Romero. He is in the zone right now and can be seen as unbeatable.

Hmm, we can't easily underestimate Gastelum. He prove to us that he is also not a weak fighter that's why he now have a shot to become a new champion. Remember, he knocked out Michael Bisping . Smells a fight woth full of surprises. (Honestly, I got surprised with his winning counter that time)

Interesting to see Adesanya vs Silva. Israel is like a copy cat of a young Anderson, but Israel is very cocky. So let's see how Anderson will perform against this prospect.

When it comes to the style of of knocking out their opponents, I'll go with Silva. For me he is like a child playing with his yoys every time he fights because I can't even see the stress in his face, just chilling. However, he is now old so you can't blame me if I doubt him for beating Adesanya.

[Yaunfitda]

There's no doubt that Whittaker will be the huge favorite here. But this is a interesting and compelling matches. Robert as I remember broke his arms against the Romero fight so it will be a huge factor in this fight, this the hands heal already? This fight is still 50/50 specially that Gastelum doesn't need to cut weight which is one of his biggest obstacles. I wouldn't be surprised if Gastelum pull a surprise here.

[Ewinsane]

First of all thank you for all of these amazing topics with links and all that, it is great help and sometimes even reminder.
I can't believe Anderson Silva is still fighting, he is 43 years old for Christ sake, nobody should fight until they are that old, it must be really bad for your body. He is not even that good anymore, he only won 1 fight out of his last 6, one of them was actually a decision to him but he tested positive for some stuff but in the end he is really too old for this.

I doubt he can continue with this for too long, hasn't he made enough money to just retire? Why is he punishing his body at this age? About the title fight, it looks as if both guys are not really anything special, they are not bad fighters for sure but they are not great neither, it will most probably be another boring title fight until we get some exciting one.

[tokeweed]

Hey guys, just dropping by quick to post these vids...  Hopefully to get more degens get interested in the event.  Enjoy!  

Adesanya is gonna be the next MW champ in the future.  IMHO.

UFC 234:  Countdown Full Episode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E10QBQq-WIc

UFC 234:  Inside the Octagon - Whittaker vs Gastelum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQFcd72T9AI

UFC 234:  Embedded - Vlog Series Ep. 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku4P1RTRKUI

[Baofeng]

First of all thank you for all of these amazing topics with links and all that, it is great help and sometimes even reminder.
I can't believe Anderson Silva is still fighting, he is 43 years old for Christ sake, nobody should fight until they are that old, it must be really bad for your body. He is not even that good anymore, he only won 1 fight out of his last 6, one of them was actually a decision to him but he tested positive for some stuff but in the end he is really too old for this.

Just like any other fighters who gets old, they wanted to fight because they wanted to prove they still have it, and wanted to stay relevant in the fighting business. But as you have, he's no longer that Anderson we know specially after he was caught with peds in his system.

I doubt he can continue with this for too long, hasn't he made enough money to just retire? Why is he punishing his body at this age? About the title fight, it looks as if both guys are not really anything special, they are not bad fighters for sure but they are not great neither, it will most probably be another boring title fight until we get some exciting one.

As for the main event, Robert Whitaker have shown that he has the balls to fight the best in his division (including two against Yoel), but I wonder why Dana White has pass Weidman though, or maybe the winner will fight Chris next. Robert is the champ so we may call his great fighter for achieving that.

[TravelMug]

Anderson should retire, reckon. He has nothing to bring and show in the octagon anymore. He is old.

@Travelmug. However, Anderson was also cocky. Watch his fight versus Chris Weidman hehehe.

Yeah I know, Anderson is cocky as well but he has the tools to back it up, until that Weidman fight, Lol. I watched Israel against Derek Brunson, he has the talent as I have said it reminds me of Silva himself, but he still needs to learn a lot if he wanted to stay long and be a champion.

[tokeweed]

More vids...  You guys should watch the tapes (I like saying 'tapes', makes it sound old school.  Lol) of their past fights and study them. It could help with your bets.  And if not, then the vids could get you more interested in the event. 

So exciteeeed for Adesanya and Silva to throw leather!!!

UFC 234:  Embedded - Vlog Series Ep. 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GkdpV3UbzQ

UFC 234:  Free Fight - Whittaker vs Romero
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I51jT8XsdYM

UFC 234:  Free Fight - Gastelum vs Bisping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICiBVoUcg7A

UFC 234:  Free Fight - Silva vs Franklin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfggX7XcCYQ

UFC 234:  Free Fight - Adesanya vs Brunson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USVnAQOiMHs

[eaLiTy]

As for the main event, Robert Whitaker have shown that he has the balls to fight the best in his division (including two against Yoel), but I wonder why Dana White has pass Weidman though, or maybe the winner will fight Chris next. Robert is the champ so we may call his great fighter for achieving that.

Hope you are not following Chris Weidman and his fights, after loosing his belt to Luke Rockhold he lost against Yoel Romero, Gegard Mousasi and Ronaldo Souza and you think that Dana White did not give him the title fight   you have to win fights and earn the shot, by that theory Artem "The Goat" Lobov should fight for the title every time he steps inside the cage.  

Yeah I know, Anderson is cocky as well but he has the tools to back it up, until that Weidman fight, Lol. I watched Israel against Derek Brunson, he has the talent as I have said it reminds me of Silva himself, but he still needs to learn a lot if he wanted to stay long and be a champion.

Israel Adesanya might be a new kid in the UFC but he is a really experienced fighter who has more than 100 kick boxing and boxing fights under him , his striking is on another level as well as the timing and movement, his ground skills are to be seen as he never faced a great wrestler yet, he got a good defense but that is to be seen if he will be tested in the ground.

[mich]

UFC 234:  Embedded - Vlog Series Ep. 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpgDF6G7gOo

UFC 234 media day staredowns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir3D1hyCmig

[bbc.reporter]

@eaLiTy. Chris Weidman was never a top fighter, I reckon. He won 2 fights from Anderson, 1 by knockout because Anderson was stupid and the other broke Anderson's leg by accident. Chris would never win if was fighting the best version of Anderson.

[mich]

@eaLiTy. Chris Weidman was never a top fighter, I reckon. He won 2 fights from Anderson, 1 by knockout because Anderson was stupid and the other broke Anderson's leg by accident. Chris would never win if was fighting the best version of Anderson.

Agree with you dude.
Weidman had his moment to shine holding his belt until December 2015.
Remember though "THE ALL-AMERICAN" ended his career record 1-4 and lost all those 4 by KO.

Anyone else think the 29 year old young man puts a hurting on the legendary Anderson Silva?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xDtK_t-IA8
I see it coming and in ugly fashion even though people forget Silva did TKO Nick Diaz -  although overturned for dope

[tokeweed]

This isn't like McGregor's press conferences but it's still entertaining enough.  At least for me it is.  One could see in what state of mind these guys are just by hearing them speak...  Could help some degens not lose money.  Lol.

UFC 234:  Pre Fight Press Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdI8vBmg8gk

[bbc.reporter]

I predict that Kelvin Gastelum might get 1 or 2 lucky punches that will knockout Robert Whittaker within 3 rounds, I reckon.

I thought Robert was unfairly bigger and taller than Kelvin. The press conference showdowns showed that he was not, however.

Also, the skills. Is Robert Whittaker much better than Kelvin Gastelum? I reckon maybe, but the difference in skill might not be as high.

[tokeweed]

^  Heh.  I hope not cos Whittaker vs Adesanya would be epic for MW.  Oz vs NZ. 

Anyway here are more vids and the weigh ins.  I think it's worrying that Adesanya is giving Silva too much respect.  Watch the interview after the weigh ins.  He seems hesitant to be who he is...

UFC 234:  Embedded - Vlog Series Ep. 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW3CMrP_ZFY

UFC 234:  Embedded - Vlog Series Ep. 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkLpoMcP0f8

UFC 234:  Official Weigh Ins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK0aLpmUHw0

Robert Whittaker (185) vs Kelvin Gastelum (184)
Anderson Silva (186) vs Israel Adesanya (185)
Rani Yahya (135) vs Ricky Simon (135)
Montana De La Rosa (125) vs Nadia Kassem (124)
Jim Crute (206) vs Sam Alvey (205)
Devonte Smith (156) vs Dong Hyun Ma (156)
Shane Young (145) vs Austin Arnett (145)
Kai Kara-France (125) vs Raulian Paiva (125)
Teruto Ishihara (136) vs Kyung Ho Kang (136)
Lando Vannata (156) vs Marcos Mariano (155)
Callan Potter (156) vs Jalin Turner (155)
Wuliji Buren (136) vs Jonathan Martinez (136)

[btc_angela]

I predict that Kelvin Gastelum might get 1 or 2 lucky punches that will knockout Robert Whittaker within 3 rounds, I reckon.

I thought Robert was unfairly bigger and taller than Kelvin. The press conference showdowns showed that he was not, however.

Also, the skills. Is Robert Whittaker much better than Kelvin Gastelum? I reckon maybe, but the difference in skill might not be as high.

I thought I see a 2 inch difference in height? So Robert is taller. I don't know mate, I predict that Whitaker has seen the video of the fight between KG and Bisping and will play defensively in the early rounds. And wait till KG tires out and go for the kill.

[eaLiTy]

Anyone else think the 29 year old young man puts a hurting on the legendary Anderson Silva?
I see it coming and in ugly fashion even though people forget Silva did TKO Nick Diaz -  although overturned for dope

I do expect a great battle, this is the only fight in Anderson Silva's career where he is not worried about any take down from the opponent and no one stopped Silva in his entire career even though he lost a couple from Chris Weidman and first one he was mocking around and got caught, other than the fights he lost ended in full time, it will be interesting if Silva pulls guard in the first round, expecting a great technical fight between the two.

^  Heh.  I hope not cos Whittaker vs Adesanya would be epic for MW.  Oz vs NZ. 

It will be an interesting match up between the two if Israel Adesanya could live up to the hype and win the fight against Silva, they have to fight in Australia to see big numbers in pay per view rather than in the US for this match up.