UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum Preview

Middleweight thrilla

The headline of this event sees Jared ‘Tha Killa Gorrilla’ Cannonier take on Kelvin Gastelum in a ranked middleweight bout.

Looking for his fourth win in five fights, Cannonier is fighting for the first time this year. Always entertaining, he has racked up four post-fight awards: three performance of the night bonuses as well as one fight of the night award. The number three ranked middleweight contender was previously a federal employee for the Federal Aviation Administration, specialising in airway transportation.

Another entertaining middleweight, Gastelum comes into this fight with 11 finishes in 17 career wins, seven by KO and four by submission. Gastelum has accrued six post fight awards, with three performance of the night awards as well as three fight of the night awards, tied for fourth-most among active middleweights. Before taking up MMA professionally, Gastelum was a bail bondsman.

From five rings to the Octagon

The co-main sees two thrilling lightweights face off as Clay ‘The Carpenter’ Guida and Mark ‘The Olympian’ Madsen go head-to-head.

A veteran of the UFC, Guida first fought in the Octagon 15 years ago. Since then, he has established himself as a powerful finisher, securing 13 wins via submission and seven by KO. Guida actually started fighting accidentally, when he entered an exhibition bout. He fell in love with the sport and started training seriously. As his nickname suggests, prior to taking up MMA he was a carpenter by trade.

After securing an Olympic silver medal in Rio De Janiero, Madsen retired from wrestling to pursue a career in MMA. He has started magnificently, holding an unbeaten record of 10-0. The Olympian has secured six career first-round finishes, including on his UFC debut, when he knocked out Danilo Belluardo. The Dane holds a degree in sports economics and leisure management and is President of the Danish Athletes Association.

A dangerous debut

An undefeated fighter comes up against a UFC debutant, as Bea Malecki faces Josiane ‘Josi’ Nunes in the bantamweight division.

This will be Malecki’s third UFC bout after she won her first two. Since going pro, the Swedish athlete is currently 4-0, one by KO, two via submission and her most recent victory came by unanimous decision over Veronica Macedo. Prior to fighting in the UFC, Malecki secured a degree in mechanical engineering in her home city of Stockholm.

Holding a 7-1 record, Nunes enters the UFC with a lot of expectation on her shoulders. The Brazilian is currently riding a six-win streak, and of her seven career wins, six of them have come by KO. She has always been a competitive sportsperson, playing amateur football before taking up MMA, and she currently teaches Muay Thai classes.

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