Chris Curtis vs Kelvin Gastelum UFC Fight Predictions 4/8

Kingpin
Apr 3, 2023, 6:27:25 PM

Fight Preview: Chris Curtis vs Kelvin Gastelum

On April 8, 2023, Chris Curtis and Kelvin Gastelum will face off in a highly anticipated matchup at UFC287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2. Curtis comes into the fight with an impressive record of 30-9-0, with a striking accuracy of 56% and a defense of 55%. He has also shown a 100% takedown defense, making him difficult to take down. He has won his last six fights, including a spectacular KO victory over Phil Hawes in UFC 268. Gastelum, on the other hand, has had a more inconsistent record of 17-8-0 (1 NC), with a slightly lower striking accuracy of 41% and a defense of 57%. However, he is a skilled wrestler, with an average of 1.05 takedowns landed per 15 minutes and a takedown accuracy of 32%. He has faced tough opponents like Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier in his recent fights, but has come up short. This matchup promises to be a battle between Curtis' striking skills and Gastelum's wrestling capabilities. Curtis will look to keep the fight on the feet and utilize his heavy hands, while Gastelum will likely try to secure takedowns and control the fight on the ground. Overall, this should be an exciting fight between two skilled fighters with contrasting styles. Fans can't wait to see who will come out on top in this matchup.

Chris Curtis Striking

Chris Curtis has established himself as a standout in the middleweight division, with a record of 30-9-0 and impressive striking statistics. Known as "Action-Man," Curtis has a significant strikes landed per minute (SLpM) of 5.82 and a significant striking accuracy (Str. Acc.) of 56%. He absorbs a relatively low number of significant strikes per minute (SApM) at 6.39 and has a significant strike defense (Str. Def.) of 55%. What sets Curtis apart is his takedown defense, which currently stands at a perfect 100%. While he averages no takedowns landed per 15 minutes (TDAvg.) and has a takedown accuracy (TDAcc.) of 0%, he also boasts a takedown defense (TDDef.) of 100%, meaning that he has never been taken down in his UFC career. Curtis has showcased his striking prowess in several of his UFC fights, with notable wins over Phil Hawes and Brendan Allen via KO/TKO. He is also coming off a win against Rodolfo Vieira via unanimous decision in June 2022. Up next for Curtis is a highly anticipated matchup against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 287 in April 2023. Gastelum has a southpaw stance and averages 1.05 takedowns landed per 15 minutes with a takedown accuracy of 32%. However, Curtis' perfect takedown defense may make it difficult for Gastelum to take the fight to the ground. In any case, Curtis' striking skills make him a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division, and fans can expect to see his dynamic style on full display in his upcoming fights.

ChrisCurtis Wrestling

Chris Curtis is a seasoned wrestler with a record of 30-9-0. His nickname, "Action-Man", speaks to his dynamic fighting style and work rate in the octagon. At 5'10" and 185lbs, Curtis has a well-rounded skill set that makes him a tough opponent for anyone in his weight class. While Curtis has a standout striking game, his wrestling abilities are equally impressive. He boasts a 100% takedown defense, meaning that opponents have yet to successfully take him down during his career. This makes it difficult for opponents who rely on their grappling skills to gain an advantage in the fight. In terms of offensive wrestling, Curtis has proven to be capable of taking opponents down when he sees the opportunity. His average takedowns landed per 15 minutes may be at 0.00, but that is likely due to his focus on striking and defending takedowns. However, when he does go for a takedown, he is successful 0% of the time. Curtis' wrestling skills will be put to the test in his upcoming matchup with Kelvin Gastelum. Gastelum is a well-rounded fighter with a significant grappling acumen, boasting an average of 1.05 takedowns landed per 15 minutes. However, Curtis' takedown defense could make it difficult for Gastelum to implement his grappling game. Regardless of the outcome, fans can expect a high-paced and dynamic fight between Chris Curtis and Kelvin Gastelum. It will be interesting to see how Curtis' wrestling skills factor into the matchup, and whether he can maintain his 100% takedown defense record.

Kelvin Gastelum's Striking

Kelvin Gastelum is a southpaw fighter with excellent striking skills. He is known for his power-packed punches and dynamic combinations that often take his opponents by surprise. Gastelum has a significant striking rate of 3.53 significant strikes landed per minute, with a striking accuracy of 41% and a significant strike defense of 57%. Despite his impressive striking abilities, Gastelum has struggled in recent fights, suffering three losses in his last four outings. However, he will be looking to turn things around when he faces off against Chris Curtis at UFC 287. Gastelum's game plan will likely center around his striking skills. He will look to utilize his speed and power to land significant strikes and inflict damage on his opponent. Curtis is no slouch when it comes to striking, but Gastelum's experience and technical abilities may give him an edge in this matchup. It will be interesting to see how Gastelum approaches this fight. He has been known to mix things up and go for takedowns when needed, but his striking is his bread and butter. If he can find his rhythm and execute his striking game plan, he could potentially earn a much-needed victory at UFC 287.

Kelvin Gastelum's Wrestling

Kelvin Gastelum has shown exceptional wrestling skills throughout his MMA career. With an average of 1.05 takedowns landed per 15 minutes, Gastelum has a 32% takedown accuracy and a 62% takedown defense. He also has a significant striking accuracy of 41% and a significant striking defense of 57%. Gastelum's wrestling ability was on full display in his UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum match on August 21, 2021. He successfully defended against seven takedowns and landed one of his own. In his UFC 258 match against Ian Heinisch, Gastelum landed five of seven takedown attempts, showing his dominance in the wrestling department. He also showcased his grappling skills in his UFC 224 match against Jacare Souza, where he neutralized Souza's takedown attempts and secured the split decision victory. However, Gastelum's wrestling has also faced challenges in some of his matches, such as his UFC 244 match against Darren Till, where he was taken down five times. But he has shown resilience and determination to come back stronger and improve his wrestling skills. In his upcoming match against Chris Curtis at UFC 287, Gastelum will look to utilize his wrestling skills to secure a victory. Curtis has a 100% takedown defense, but Gastelum has proven to be a capable wrestler, and it will be interesting to see how he fares against Curtis.

How Chris Curtis Can Win

Chris Curtis can win against Kelvin Gastelum by utilizing his striking skills and his 100% takedown defense. He has a higher significant striking accuracy and lands more significant strikes per minute compared to Gastelum. Curtis can use his reach advantage and keep Gastelum on the outside, using his footwork to avoid getting taken down. Curtis can also take advantage of Gastelum's lower takedown defense by attempting takedowns of his own. Although Curtis doesn't have a significant takedown average, he can use his striking combinations to set up takedowns and control the fight on the ground. Furthermore, Curtis has a higher knockout rate compared to Gastelum and can end the fight early if he lands clean shots. He has shown his knockout power in his previous fights, including his win against Phil Hawes in UFC 268. Overall, Chris Curtis can win against Kelvin Gastelum by using his striking skills, footwork, and takedown defense, and taking risks to secure a finish if the opportunity presents itself. How Kelvin Gastelum Can Win: Analyzing His Stats and Fighting Style Kelvin Gastelum is known for his aggressive and diverse fighting style, which combines powerful strikes with effective grappling and takedowns. To win his next fight against Chris Curtis, Gastelum will need to rely on his strengths while minimizing his weaknesses. One advantage Gastelum has over Curtis is his wrestling ability, with an average of 1.05 takedowns landed per 15 minutes and a 32% takedown accuracy. He should look to exploit this by taking Curtis down and working for submissions or ground-and-pound. However, Gastelum will need to be careful not to get caught in Curtis's striking game, as he has an impressive 56% significant strike accuracy and lands an average of 5.82 significant strikes per minute. To avoid this, Gastelum should use his footwork to stay on the outside and use a combination of jabs, leg kicks, and takedowns to neutralize Curtis's striking. Gastelum also has a slight reach advantage over Curtis, with a 71" reach compared to Curtis's 75". He should use this to his advantage by keeping Curtis at distance with his long jabs and straight punches, while also setting up his takedowns with feints and strikes. Overall, Gastelum's key to victory will be to mix up his striking and grappling to keep Curtis guessing, while also using his wrestling to control the fight on the ground. If he can successfully implement this game plan, Gastelum has a good chance of winning the fight and putting himself back in contention for the middleweight title.