UFC on ESPN 22 predictions: Is anyone taking Kelvin Gastelum over Robert Whittaker?

MMA News

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%)
stephens2021
Stephens
(53%)
arlovski2021
Arlovski
(56%)
alhassan2021
Alhassan
(78%)
pena2021
Pena
(68%)
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 43-24
Whittaker stephens2021
Stephens
arlovski2021
Arlovski
alhassan2021
Alhassan
pena2021
Pena
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 42-25
Whittaker klose2021
Klose
arlovski2021
Arlovski
alhassan2021
Alhassan
pena2021
Pena
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 42-25
trophy copy 2018 Champion
Whittaker klose2021
Klose
sherman2021
Sherman
alhassan2021
Alhassan
pena2021
Pena
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 41-26
Whittaker stephens2021
Stephens
arlovski2021
Arlovski
alhassan2021
Alhassan
pena2021
Pena
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 41-26
Whittaker klose2021
Klose
arlovski2021
Arlovski
alhassan2021
Alhassan
pena2021
Pena
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 41-26
trophy copy 2020 Champion
Whittaker stephens2021
Stephens
arlovski2021
Arlovski
alhassan2021
Alhassan
munoz2021
Munoz
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 40-27
Whittaker klose2021
Klose
arlovski2021
Arlovski
alhassan2021
Alhassan
munoz2021
Munoz
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 40-27
trophy copy 2017 Champion
Whittaker klose2021
Klose
arlovski2021
Arlovski
alhassan2021
Alhassan
munoz2021
Munoz
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 38-29
Whittaker klose2021
Klose
sherman2021
Sherman
alhassan2021
Alhassan
munoz2021
Munoz
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 38-29
Whittaker stephens2021
Stephens
arlovski2021
Arlovski
alhassan2021
Alhassan
munoz2021
Munoz
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 36-31
trophy copy 2014 Champion
Whittaker stephens2021
Stephens
arlovski2021
Arlovski
alhassan2021
Alhassan
munoz2021
Munoz
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 35-32
Whittaker klose2021
Klose
arlovski2021
Arlovski
alhassan2021
Alhassan
munoz2021
Munoz
BetMGM
Betting Favorites
Whittaker -275 stephens2021
Stephens -120
arlovski2021
Arlovski -135
alhassan2021
Alhassan -300/td>
pena2021
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?