Tyron Woodley vs. Kelvin Gastelum: A Complete Head-to-Toe Breakdown
UFC welterweights Tyron "The Chosen One" Woodley and Kelvin Gastelum are both battling for position on the 170-pound ladder when they meet Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 183.
Woodley, a former Strikeforce welterweight champion, has endured an up-and-down UFC career thus far, notching wins over Carlos Condit and Dong Hyun Kim but faltered under the bright lights against Rory MacDonald. His opponent, The Ultimate Fighter 17 winner Gastelum, has gone 5-0 with victories over Rick Story and Jake Ellenberger.
Both Woodley and Gastelum are eager to stake their claim for a title shot and prove that they are legitimate contenders.
While they share a few similarities, a couple of key differences set these top welterweights apart. Read on for a complete head-to-toe breakdown of this pivotal co-main event tilt.
Striking
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Woodley may be an NCAA Division I All-American wrestler from the University of Missouri, but you sure wouldn't see it that way based upon how he fights.
The 32-year-old has four victories in the Octagon to his credit, with three coming via knockout in the first round. His most recent win was a 61-second thrashing of Kim in August.
The American Top Team star has a style similar to that of Rashad Evans, who typically wings his punches. What Woodley lacks in fluidity, he more than makes up for in raw power.
A rather underestimated part of his game is his dirty boxing. In fights against Tarec Saffiedine and Paul Daley in Strikeforce, more than half of the strikes Woodley landed were from the clinch, according to FightMetric.
Gastelum's striking has improved leaps and bounds since his days on TUF. Since his victory over Uriah Hall in the show's finale, the 23-year-old has let his stand-up skills do the talking against Nico Musoke and Rick Story.
He may not boast any victories by knockout yet, but his confidence has allowed him to have success over tough competition. However, being a southpaw puts him at risk of fielding an incoming missile of a right hand from Woodley, although he proved he can absorb a hard shot in his fight with Story.
When it comes down to it, the man who is most likely to have his hand raised due to strikes is Woodley. He is content trading leather with the heaviest of hitters out there and has the killer instinct to boot.
Edge: Woodley
Wrestling
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There is a reason why wrestling has been regarded as the best base for an MMA fighter.
Woodley was a standout collegiate wrestler, who now trains with one of the best in the business, Olympian Ben Askren. The Chosen One also sports some of the best takedown defense the welterweight division has ever seen, defending them at a 91 percent clip.
The majority of Woodley's wrestling occurred in Strikeforce, but that doesn't mean it hasn't affected other parts of his game. He's so confident in his striking because of his takedown defense.
He can let his hands and feet fly as often as he pleases because of his distinct wrestling pedigree.
Gastelum, on the flip side, doesn't have the same luxury. He's defending just over half of the takedowns coming his way while achieving close to two of them per fight.
His shot isn't close to the level of Woodley's, and he didn't wrestle during his one year at North Idaho College. The Chosen One should have the upper hand on the mat.
Edge: Woodley
Submissions
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Submissions are a big part of Gastelum's game. Two of his five UFC victories have come by way of first-round submission.
His submission of choice? The rear-naked choke. Gastelum slapped the same choke on both Brian Melancon and Ellenberger. The ease at which he secures it is downright scary.
Though we haven't seen much of his jiu-jitsu skills around the Octagon, Woodley is capable of pulling off submissions while on top. He submitted his first three Strikeforce opponents, Sal Woods, Zach Light and Rudy Bears.
While it may be difficult for him to get this fight to the ground, one of Gastelum's biggest strengths leading into this fight is his submission game, and Woodley better prepare for it.
Edge: Gastelum
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X-Factors
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Tyron Woodley: One-Punch Knockout Power
There's not much room for argument here. Woodley has been a one-punch wrecking crew since his arrival in the UFC in February 2013.
He's earned six knockdowns in his career and has won via KO/TKO in each UFC victory. The Chosen One has turned over a new leaf since his Strikeforce days, where he won just one bout by knockout.
This is a perfect opportunity for Woodley to test the chin of Gastelum, who's shown he can take a licking. One well-timed right hand and it may be all she wrote for the southpaw.
Woodley doesn't mix it up and use his legs as much as he probably should, but if it's not broken, why fix it?
Kelvin Gastelum: Heart
The 23-year-old prospect has flourished under the underdog moniker that has followed him since his time on TUF. As the competition has increased, so has Gastelum's will to win, and he will not be denied.
The deck has been stacked against him each time, and while not always pretty, Gastelum has found a way to chalk one up in the win column.
The Yuma United MMA product has a battle-tested chin and an improved striking and wrestling game. Perhaps more importantly, he has shown on multiple occasions that he can finish fights with relative ease.
However, getting the fight to the ground against the stronger Woodley would be a feat in itself for Gastelum.
Prediction
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A win on January 31 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena likely puts Woodley or Gastelum just one more victory shy of earning a 170-pound title shot.
Each fighter will need to be on top of his game if he has hopes of leaving the cage before the 15-minute mark of this three-round, co-main event spot at UFC 183. Gastelum was one of the best stories of 2014 and has risen to the occasion more than once.
His fight against Ellenberger is a clear example of that.
Woodley, though, has faltered when the stakes are high. He's fallen prey to Nate Marquardt and MacDonald in the past, in bouts where chances to win, or fight for, a title were on the line. Still, his path to a victory, at least on paper, appears to be easier than that of Gastelum's.
The Chosen One has far too many strengths that he can deploy to stifle the limited offense of Gastelum. It will be hard-fought, but Woodley puts him away late.
Prediction: Woodley defeats Gastelum via third-round TKO
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