In the 185-pound division, Saturday's UFC Fight Night main fight between Jared Cannonier (UFC) and Kelvin Gastelum is pivotal. While the winner will be a top contender, the loser will fall down the rankings. Cannonier is ranked No. Cannonier is ranked No. 5 at middleweight. Gastelum is not currently ranked but he has also given champion Israel Adesanya the most difficult test at middleweight in Adesanya’s UFC career.
Cannonier (13-4), who would have been eligible for a title shot if he had won his previous bout, lost to Robert Whittaker in October via unanimous decision. Cannonier, a native of Texas, lost his three-fight winning streak before that loss. Cannonier, 37 years old, is one of two men (Conor McGregor the other) who have won via KO/TKO across three UFC divisions. Cannonier started his UFC career at heavyweight. He then moved up to light heavyweight. Now he competes at middleweight.
ESPN's No. After losing to Robert Whittaker in the last fights, Jared Cannonier and Kelvin Gastelum, 5 welterweights, look to get back on track. UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum
Saturday, Aug. 21, UFC Apex, Las Vegas Main card: 10 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+
7 p.m. Prelims ET on ESPN2/ESPN+ Subscribe ESPN+ to receive exclusive live UFC events and weigh-ins; Dana White's Contender Series and other exclusive MMA content.
Gastelum (16-7-1 NC) is a man who has come from the opposite direction. He started his UFC career in welterweight after he won the Ultimate Fighter middleweight title in 2013. After struggling on the scales in 2016, Gastelum moved to middleweight and emerged as a contender. He will face Adesanya in 2019 for the interim title. Although it was a loss, it was a great fight that was probably the best of 2018. Gastelum, 29 years old, has lost four out of five fights in his career, including the one against Adesanya.
Clay Guida, a wily veteran and undefeated wrestler, will be taking on Mark O. Madsen in the co-main. Madsen (10-0), a 36 year-old Dane from Denmark, will be taking on Clay Guida. Guida is an Olympic silver medalist in Greco Roman grappling. Guida (36-20), 39-year-old from California's Team Alpha Male stopped a losing streak of two fights in his previous bout. Guida, a 15-year UFC veteran, and Diego Sanchez's fight are in the UFC Hall of Fame.
Alexandre Pantoja faces Brandon Royval in a crucial flyweight matchup. Chase Sherman faces Parker Porter, a battle between heavyweight sluggers, and Vinc Pichel meets Austin Hubbard, a veteran lightweight bout.
Keep fighting for progress
Heavyweight: Chase Sherman (15-7, 1-1 UFC, -195) vs. Parker Porter (11-6, 1-1 UFC, +165)
These are the results
Men's bantamweight: Saidyokub Kakhramonov (9-2 UFC), defeats Trevin Jones (11-3 1 NC, 1-1 NC UFC) in the third round.
Saidyokub Khakhramonov took advantage of the opportunity to grab Trevin Jones’ neck and win his third consecutive title. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Kakhramonov was stuck against the cage for half the final round, with less than half an hour remaining in his UFC debut. He was unable to produce any offense and the fight was at risk.
Jones attempted to bring Jones down, but Jones left his neck exposed. Kakhramonov took advantage of Jones' last chance and sank in a standing choke. This produced a dramatic end at 4:39.
Wow! This Uzbek child is the future! #UFCVegas34 GIGA CHIKADZE (@giga_chikadze August 22, 2021
The Uzbekistani 25-year old, who lives in Irvine, California, won three consecutive fights. He was an incontinence replacement and lost weight Friday.
Kakhramonov said, "You guys saw my on four days' notice." "Give me an eight-week camp. I can also take out the champ."
Jones, a Guam 31-year-old, saw his three-fight winning streak end.
-- Wagenheim
This fight can be viewed on ESPN+
Lightweight: Vinc pichel (14-2 UFC, 7-2 UFC), defeats Austin Hubbard (13-6 UFC, 3-4 UFC), by unanimous decision
Vinc Pichel won his third consecutive victory. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Pichel threw hard, winging punches at Hubbard that slammed into his head. Hubbard retaliated and slapped Pichel with an elbow from a Thai clinch. The final sequence was the culmination of a war between the men. It brought Dana White (the UFC president) to his feet.
Hubbard made a tremendous effort but Pichel won the final decision (27-27, 30-27 and 30-27).
Pichel stated in his postfight interview, "I'm still an animal. So come here and fight like this."
Hubbard was successful with his striking early on. Pichel seemed to be more technical than Hubbard, at least in the beginning. Pichel stated that his goal was to "outfootwork" Hubbard and it started paying off in the second round. Pichel made the bout more of a brawl by hurting Hubbard in the second round with a combination and then following it up with a big elbow.
It was more of the exact same in the third. Pichel was the younger fighter and landed the more difficult shots. After a Hubbard knockout, he outscrambled Hubbard and took him to the ground. He then got on top of Hubbard and got up later. Both men threw haymakers at Hubbard, which was fitting for such a brutal fight.
Pichel, 38 years old, has won three consecutive fights and seven of his eight previous bouts. After the fight, Pichel, a California native, called out Gregor Gillespie. Gillespie has been the only man to beat Pichel since 2012. Hubbard is a 29-year old Illinois native who fights out of Elevation Fight Team, Colorado. He has had wins and losses in his eight previous bouts.
-- Raimondi
This fight can be viewed on ESPN+
Flyweight: Alexandre Pantoja (25-54, 8-3 UFC), defeats Brandon Royval (12-6 UFC), by second round submission
Alexandre Pantoja won the second round by a decisive tie. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
This tussle between top-10 flyweights lasted for all of the first round, and as long as it lasted during the second. It was fast-forward, just like the 125-pounders do.
Pantoja had an advantage in the first round but was unable to hold on as Royval took control and threatened a submission. Pantoja then took advantage of a grappling scramble to secure the win and locked in a rear naked choke.
Pantoja's BJJ has a high-level, pound-for-pound level. As I write this, Pantoja has won a Royval National Championship. I was hoping Brandon would win. Fantastic fight, big win for Pantoja #UFCVegas34 Aljamain sterling (@funkmasterMMA), August 22, 2021
The 31-year old Brazilian fighter is currently ranked No. The Brazilian fighter, who is currently ranked 7 in the ESPN men’s flyweight rankings has won three of five of his previous fights. Brandon Moreno, UFC champion, was in attendance at this one.
Pantoja, who has a 2018 win over Moreno as well as a victory in an exhibition on The Ultimate Fighter against him, called out the champ.
Pantoja stated that the first time he beat me on TUF, he came back to UFC and made a bonus. He came back like a champion the second time I beat him in a fight. Now is my turn, Moreno. I will see you in December. Are you a December person? It's good if it's good enough for you.
Royval, a 29-year-old from Englewood in Colorado, was ranked ninth and lost to Moreno in November. Moreno would win the belt.
-- Wagenheim
This fight can be viewed on ESPN+
Men's featherweight: Austin Lingo (9-1 UFC), defeats Luis Saldana (15-7 UFC), by unanimous decision
Austin Lingo lost the first round but won the second and third frames. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Saldana looked set to win the second round. Lingo, however, was not having any of it.
Lingo rallied in both the second and third rounds to defeat Saldana by unanimous decision (29-28.29.28.29.28.29.28.29.28.29.28.29.28.29.28.29.28.29.28.29.28.29.28.29.28.29.28.29.28). This was a great performance. Saldana won round one with her stylish kicks, punching combinations and opened up Lingo to serious injuries. Lingo, however, stepped up the pressure and won the final round.
Saldana was the better fighter from the beginning. Saldana had great kicks and a smooth striking technique. Saldana was able to land nice kicks to the head, legs and body. He also used his boxing skills well. Lingo was not discouraged. Sayif Saud, Fortis MMA's coach, advised him to keep Saldana in the face before the second round. Lingo did this, increasing his pace and giving Saldana no room. Lingo was able to land big punches inside the ring, including head and body punches, as well as leg kicks.
Saldana was tired by the end of the second round and felt the effects of shots on her legs and body. Lingo hit Saldana with a right hand, dropping her. That was enough to seal the victory.
Lingo, 27, won two consecutive fights after dropping his UFC debut against Youssef Zaalal in February 2020. The Texan, who was undefeated prior to the loss to Zalal, looks tough as a bantamweight due to his guilee and durability. Saldana, a 30-year old fighting out of Arizona had a five-fight winning streak.
-- Raimondi
This fight can be viewed on ESPN+
Men's bantamweight: Brian Kelleher (23-12 UFC, 7-5 UFC), defeats Domingo Pilarte (8-3-1 NC, 0-2 UFC UFC), by unanimous decision
After handling Domingo Pilarte, Brian Kelleher called Sean O'Malley out. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Fast three years passed before the fight finally took place. Kelleher was quick to get Pilarte when it finally arrived.
Kelleher walked into the cage with a purpose and immediately took Pilarte down to the floor. He then beat Pilarte for the remainder of the round. In the second round, the same scene played out from quick takedowns to unrelenting beatingdowns. Kelleher won the final round, though he didn't win.
The bout was scored 30-27 by all three judges. Selden, New York's 34-year-old landed 245 ground strikes in 12 minutes, 26 seconds.
Kelleher said, "Not the most exciting fight, but a smart fight by me." He had lost two of his previous three fights. "Needed to get the big W."
After the event, Kelleher called Sean O'Malley out.
Pilarte, a 31-year-old Houstonian, lost his debut in the UFC to Filipe Colares by a split decision. In November 2018, he was originally scheduled to make his debut against Kelleher.
-- Wagenheim
This fight can be viewed on ESPN+
Women's bantamweight: Josiane nunes (8-1 UFC) beats Bea Malecki (2-1 UFC), by first-round knockout.
William Knight stunned some with a brutal first round KO. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Nunes gave up seven inches of height. It doesn't matter.
Despite the large size difference Nunes was able get in on Malecki without any difficulty. She dominated Malecki with an overhand left, and she won via knockout at 4:14 in the first round.
Wooooooooooooo! WELCOME TO THE UFC Josiane Nunes!! You are invited to join us!
[#UFCVegas34 | Prelims are LIVE on ESPN2 & @ESPNPlus] pic.twitter.com/lRpjDI7nOx UFC (@ufc) August 22, 2021
From the beginning, Nunes attacked Malecki with large combinations. The southpaw used her left to pull off a Superman punch and then let loose with a slew of punches. Malecki could not keep Nunes away with her reach advantage.
Malecki did land a nice headkick and a spinning back elbow. Nunes fought through those blows and continued to fight until he finally got the knockout punch. It was quite violent. Malecki fell to the floor in a horrible fashion after the left hand connected.
Nunes, 27 years old, was making her UFC debut. Brazil's native Nunes has won seven consecutive fights and her only loss in a career was against Taila Santos, a fellow UFC roster member. Malecki, a native of Sweden, was unable to maintain a winning streak of two fights in the UFC.
-- Raimondi
This fight can be viewed on ESPN+
Light Heavyweight: William Knight (10-2 UFC, 3-1 UFC), defeats Fabio Cheant (7-3 UFC, 0-2 UFC), by first round KO
Josiane Nunes was not stopped by a seven-inch disadvantage. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Knight won a fierce battle of New Englanders when he waited for his opponent to arrive and then made that foe wish he hadn’t.
Cherant had found a home to a few overhand punches, and just missed with several more. He was 26 years old and from Wrentham, Massachusetts. He fell to the ground.
Knight, 33, is from East Hartford, Connecticut. He took the punch and landed a left hook on his opponent, which dropped him. Chris Tognoni, the referee, jumped in and ended the match at 3:58.
Cherant was unhappy that Knight had suggested he doesn't have striking skills and Knight went into the fight dissatisfied. Knight said, "I ate an underhand and threw a left hook." It is what it is. You can't see what you don’t see. That's the most dangerous thing.
Knight has won three out of his four previous UFC bouts. Cherant has lost both his UFC bouts.
-- Wagenheim
This fight can be viewed on ESPN+
Lightweight: Ignacio Bahamondes (12-4-1 UFC), defeats Roosevelt Roberts (10-3-1 NC, 4-3-1 NC UFC), by third round KO
The UFC may have a legitimate blue-chip prospect from Latin America.
After putting in an impressive performance, Bahamondes destroyed Roberts with a spinning kick knockout in the third round. Bahamondes was worse than ever -- his face was covered with blood -- but he was the stronger and more effective fighter each round. One of the best KOs of the year was the spinning back kick.
With 6 seconds remaining, the KO of 2019 is landed! !#ufcVegas Jamahal Hill, @JamahalH August 22, 2021
Bahamondes stated that he had hit him in the back a few times in his postfight interview. "I was trying throw the spinning heel kick at his body to get his attention down. It worked. It was a gift from God.
Bahamondes was a kicker and went to the body in every round. In the form of boxing combos, he also added a lot of volume to his hands. Roberts also had his moments. Roberts landed a hard right hand counter in the first round, and a big uppercut during the second. Bahamondes, however, continued to pound it out with punches in a multitude and ended with an absolute flourish.
Bahamondes is only 23 years old and won his first UFC win. The Chilean native trains in Chicago with Mike Valle, a highly respected striking coach. Roberts, a Miami native, has lost three consecutive matches fighting out of California.
-- Raimondi
This fight can be viewed on ESPN+
Welterweight: Ramiz Brahimaj (9-3-1 UFC) beats Sasha Palatnikov (4-4, 1-2 UFC). First round submission
Brahimaj won his first UFC win with an efficient urgency. He got a takedown just 20 seconds in, and then quickly moved into half guard, then full mounted, before grabbing a rear-naked choke for the win two minutes and 33 seconds later. His nine career victories have been by submission.
Ramiz is a beast! Ramiz is a beast! He has heavy hands and an offensive ground game. This fight is a great way to kick off this fight card. Let's get started! #UFCVegas34 Alex Morono (@alexmoronomma) August 21, 2021
The Bronx native, who is now fighting at Fortis MMA Dallas, was stopped by a doctor last November. This time, however, it was the referee who stopped Palatnikov's fight after he tried to resist the choke.
Palatnikov, 32 years old, was born in Hong Kong, and currently fights out from Las Vegas. He is currently 1-2 in UFC.
-- Wagenheim
This fight can be viewed on ESPN+
There are still more to come.
Middleweight: Jared Cannonier (13-5, 6-5 UFC, -140) vs. Kelvin Gastelum (17-7 1 NC, 11-7 1 NC UFC, +120)
Lightweight: Clay Guida (36-17, 16-14 UFC, +140) vs. Mark O. Madsen (10-0, 2-0 UFC, -165)
