Whittaker vs Gastelum UFC Betting Tips 10-02-2019

The Ultimate Fighting Championship lands at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena this Sunday, with 13 fights on the card. The main event sees Aussie Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker appear in front of his home crowd for the first time since being crowned undisputed UFC middleweight champion in 2017.

Whittaker, Silva Among Big Names at UFC 234

Whittaker’s opponent in the octagon will be American Kelvin Gastelum, who’s ranked fourth in the middleweight rankings. Like Whittaker, Gastelum is a striker. Whittaker averages 4.82 significant strikes per minute, ahead of Gastelum’s 3.86. However, Gastelum strikes with greater accuracy than Whittaker, enjoying a 43.69% to 40.72% advantage.

Before they step into the Octagon, step into the lives of the main and co-main before Saturday's event. #UFC234 Countdown starts NOW on @ESPN! pic.twitter.com/ICMlHSddae

— UFC (@ufc) February 3, 2019

The co-main event is also a middleweight bout featuring rising star Israel Adesanya and former world champ Anderson Silva. Veteran UFC fans know Silva as the man who enjoyed the longest title reign in UFC history, from 2006 through to 2013. However, the 43-year-old Brazilian has slipped to 15th in the rankings. Adesanya, 14 years his junior, is unbeaten from 15 bouts.

Other Aussies on the main card include Nadia Kassem in the women’s flyweight and Jimmy Crute in the light heavyweight.

Melbourne I’m coming #ufc234 #homesoil #Australia #ufc @ufc pic.twitter.com/4Aq1wx0xRp

— Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) November 14, 2018

UFC 234 Betting Odds

 As you’d expect of the champion, Whittaker will go in as betting favourite. The interest for punters will be in the method of victory, given this bout pits striker against striker. PalmerBet is paying a generous 2.50 on Whittaker to win by KO/TKO, which has been his method of victory in 48% of his 21 UFC wins. Unibet is paying 1.50 for either competitor to win by finish. These are good odds given both men win by finish in roughly 70% of their wins.

As for Silva v Adesanya, bet365 is offering enticing 5.50 odds on Silva taking us back to yesteryear and defeating Adesanya. Neds is paying 1.67 for the fight to end with a KO/TKO, which is the method of victory in 87% of Adesanya’s wins and 65% of Silva’s wins.