UFC on ESPN 22 predictions: Is anyone taking Kelvin Gastelum over Robert Whittaker?
Whittaker vs. Gastelum |
Klose vs. Stephens |
Arlovski vs. Sherman |
Alhassan vs. Malkoun |
Munonz vs. Pena |
|
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2021: 40-27 |
Whittaker (85%) |
Stephens (53%) |
Arlovski (56%) |
Alhassan (78%) |
Pena (68%) |
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2021: 43-24 |
Whittaker | Stephens |
Arlovski |
Alhassan |
Pena |
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2021: 42-25 |
Whittaker | Klose |
Arlovski |
Alhassan |
Pena |
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2021: 42-25 2018 Champion |
Whittaker | Klose |
Sherman |
Alhassan |
Pena |
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 2021: 41-26 |
Whittaker | Stephens |
Arlovski |
Alhassan |
Pena |
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2021: 41-26 |
Whittaker | Klose |
Arlovski |
Alhassan |
Pena |
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2021: 41-26 2020 Champion |
Whittaker | Stephens |
Arlovski |
Alhassan |
Munoz |
Nolan King @mma_kings 2021: 40-27 |
Whittaker | Klose |
Arlovski |
Alhassan |
Munoz |
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2021: 40-27 2017 Champion |
Whittaker | Klose |
Arlovski |
Alhassan |
Munoz |
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2021: 38-29 |
Whittaker | Klose |
Sherman |
Alhassan |
Munoz |
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2021: 38-29 |
Whittaker | Stephens |
Arlovski |
Alhassan |
Munoz |
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2021: 36-31 2014 Champion |
Whittaker | Stephens |
Arlovski |
Alhassan |
Munoz |
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2021: 35-32 |
Whittaker | Klose |
Arlovski |
Alhassan |
Munoz |
BetMGM Betting Favorites |
Whittaker -275 | Stephens -120 |
Arlovski -135 |
Alhassan -300/td> |
Pena -150 |
The UFC is back in action Saturday with a former middleweight champion at the top of the card.
UFC on ESPN 22 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, former 185-pound champ Robert Whittaker (22-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) tries to stay on track against Kelvin Gastelum (17-6 MMA, 11-6 UFC) in a bout that was supposed to take place in February 2019. Whittaker is a heavy favorite at -275 at BetMGM, and he’s one of two unanimous picks from our 12 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.
In the co-feature, Drakkar Klose (11-2-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) takes on Jeremy Stephens (28-18 MMA, 15-17 UFC) in a lightweight bout. Stephens is a slight favorite at -120, and it’s close from out pickers, as well. Klose has just a 7-5 edge.
Former heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski (30-20 MMA, 19-14 UFC) takes on Chase Sherman (15-6 MMA, 3-5 UFC), and though Arlovski is only a mild favorite at -135, he’s got a big lead in the picks at 10-2.
Abdul Razak Alhassan (10-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) is the event’s biggest favorite at -300 against Jacob Malkoun (4-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at Malkoun. And Alhassan is our other unanimous pick at 12-0.
And to open the main card, Alexander Munoz (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) meets Luis Pena (8-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) in a lightweight bout. Pena is a slight favorite, but it’s Munoz with a 7-5 lead in the picks.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Whittaker (85 percent), Stephens (53 percent), Arlovski (56 percent), Alhassan (78 percent) and Pena (68 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
UFC on ESPN 22 predictions: Is anyone taking Kelvin Gastelum over Robert Whittaker?