UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum
{{short description|2021 MMA event}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name= UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum
|image= File:Official_poster_for_UFC_on_ESPN_Cannonier_vs._Gastelum.jpg
|promotion= Ultimate Fighting Championship
|date= {{start date|2021|08|21}}
|venue= UFC Apex
|city= Enterprise, Nevada, United States
|gate=
|previousevent= UFC 265: Lewis vs. Gane
|followingevent= UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze
}}
UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum (also known as UFC on ESPN 29 and UFC Vegas 34) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on August 21, 2021, at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-news-nac-approves-august-events-dana-white-contender-series|title=NAC approves two UFC events for August|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King|date=2021-07-07|access-date=2021-07-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/31435529/paulo-costa-jared-cannonier-bout-being-finalized-headline-ufc-fight-night-august|title=Paulo Costa-Jared Cannonier bout being finalized to headline UFC Fight Night in August|publisher=espn.com|author=Brett Okamoto|date=2021-05-12|access-date=2021-05-12}}
Background
A middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Championship challenger Paulo Costa and Jared Cannonier was expected headline this event. However, on June 4, Costa withdrew from the bout for unknown reasons and was replaced by former interim title challenger and The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen middleweight winner Kelvin Gastelum.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/6/5/22519932/paulo-costa-out-kelvin-gastelum-steps-in-to-fight-jared-cannonier-in-aug-21-ufc-main-event|title=Paulo Costa out, Kelvin Gastelum steps in to fight Jared Cannonier in Aug. 21 UFC main event|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Alexander K. Lee and Damon Martin|date=2021-06-05|access-date=2021-06-05}} Costa later claimed he never signed the bout agreement and had issues with his payment, while not confirming them as the reason for his withdrawal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/6/5/22520011/paulo-costa-never-signed-contract-jared-cannonier-fight-youtubers-are-exposing-issues-fighter-pay|title=Paulo Costa says he never signed contract for Jared Cannonier fight, claims ‘YouTubers’ are exposing issues with fighter pay|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2021-06-05|access-date=2021-06-05}}
A heavyweight bout between Chase Sherman and Parker Porter took place at this event.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/5/8/22426856/chase-sherman-vs-parker-porter-rebooked-for-ufc-event-on-aug-21|title=Chase Sherman vs. Parker Porter rebooked for UFC event on Aug. 21|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Mike Heck|date=2021-05-08|access-date=2021-05-10}} The pairing was previously scheduled to take place at UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum, but Porter was removed from that contest due to undisclosed reasons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/4/7/22372820/with-parker-porter-out-andrei-arlovski-steps-in-to-face-chase-sherman-at-ufc-vegas-24|title=With Parker Porter out, Andrei Arlovski steps in to face Chase Sherman at UFC Vegas 24|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Mike Heck and Damon Martin|date=2021-04-07|access-date=2021-05-10}}
Brian Kelleher and Domingo Pilarte met in a bantamweight bout at this event.{{Cite web|url=https://fighterpath.com/2021/05/17/breaking-brian-kelleher-vs-domingo-pilarte-set-for-ufc-event-on-august-21/|title=Brian Kelleher vs Domingo Pilarte set for UFC event on August 21|publisher=fighterpath.com|author=Sergio Pinheiro|date=2021-05-17|access-date=2021-05-18}} The pairing was previously scheduled to take place in November 2018 at UFC 230, but Pilarte pulled out due to injury.{{Cite news|url=http://mmadna.nl/montel-jackson-vervangt-domingo-pilarte-tijdens-ufc-230-tegen-brian-kelleher/|title=Montel Jackson replaces Domingo Pilarte during UFC 230 against Brian Kelleher|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2018-10-10|access-date=2021-05-18}} {{in lang|nl}}
A bantamweight bout between Mana Martinez and Jesse Strader was expected to take place at this event.{{Cite web|url= https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/05/ufc-news-mana-martinez-vs-jesse-strader-august-21|title=Mana Martinez set for UFC debut, meets Jesse Strader on Aug. 21|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King and Farrah Hannoun|date=2021-05-31|access-date=2021-08-12}} However, just over a week before the event, Strader withdrew from the bout for unknown reasons and was replaced by Trevin Jones.{{Cite web|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2021/08/12/jesse-strader-trevin-jones-mana-martinez-ufc-vegas-34/|title=Jesse Strader out, Trevin Jones in against Mana Martinez at UFC Vegas 34|publisher=cagesidepress.com|author=Jay Anderson|date=2021-08-12|access-date=2021-08-12}} In turn, Martinez pulled out during fight week due to undisclosed reasons.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/08/ufc-on-espn-29-news-mana-martinez-out-trevin-jones|title=Mana Martinez off UFC on ESPN 29; Trevin Jones needs new opponent|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King and Farah Hannoun|date=2021-08-16|access-date=2021-08-16}} Jones was then matched up with Saidyokub Kakhramonov.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/8/17/22628848/with-mana-martinez-out-trevin-jones-welcomes-newcomer-said-yokub-at-ufc-vegas-34|title=With Mana Martinez out, Trevin Jones welcomes newcomer Said Yokub at UFC Vegas 34|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Mike Heck|date=2021-08-17|access-date=2021-08-17}} At the weigh-ins, Kakhramonov weighed in at 138.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and he forfeited 20% of his purse to Jones.{{Cite web|url= https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/8/20/22634285/ufc-vegas-34-weigh-in-results-kelvin-gastelum-needs-additional-hour-make-weight-hits-mark-main-event|title= UFC Vegas 34 weigh-in results: Kelvin Gastelum needs additional time to make weight, hits mark for main event|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2021-08-20|access-date=2021-08-20}}
A women's flyweight bout between Cortney Casey and Liana Jojua in women's flyweight was scheduled for this event.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-09|title=UFC books Cortney Casey vs. Liana Jojua for Aug. 21 event|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/07/ufc-news-cortney-casey-vs-liana-jojua-august-21-women-mma-fight-booking-matchup|access-date=2021-07-09|author=Nolan King|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com}} However, Jojua was forced out of the fight due to visa issues. The matchup is expected to remain intact and be rescheduled for a later event.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-12|title=Visa issues scratch Liana Jojua from UFC Vegas 34, Cortney Casey targets future matchup|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/8/12/22622526/visa-issues-scratch-liana-jojua-from-ufc-vegas-34-cortney-casey-targets-future-matchup|access-date=2021-08-13|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Mike Heck}}
Antônio Braga Neto and Abdul Razak Alhassan were expected to meet in a middleweight bout at this event.{{Cite news|url=https://mmadna.nl/abdul-razak-alhassan-treft-antonio-braga-neto-tijdens-ufc-on-espn-29-in-las-vegas/|title=Abdul Razak Alhassan meets Antonio Braga Neto at UFC on ESPN 29 in Las Vegas|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2021-07-30|access-date=2021-07-31}} {{in lang|nl}} They were eventually rescheduled for UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze the following week.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ufc.com.br/news/ketlen-vieira-e-antonio-braga-neto-retornam-ao-octogono-no-ufc-vegas-35|title=Ketlen Vieira and Antonio Braga Neto return to the octagon at UFC Vegas 35|publisher=ufc.com.br|author=Staff|date=2021-08-16|access-date=2021-08-16}} {{in lang|pt}}
Results
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main card (ESPN / ESPN+)}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 48–47)
|5
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Heavyweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Catchweight (138.5 lb)
|Saidyokub Kakhramonov
|def.
|Technical Submission (guillotine choke)
|3
|4:39
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Flyweight
|def.
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|2
|1:46
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (ESPN2 / ESPN+)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women’s Bantamweight
|def.
|KO (punch)
|1
|4:54
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|def.
|KO (punches)
|1
|3:58
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|KO (spinning wheel kick)
|3
|4:55
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Welterweight
|def.
|Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)
|1
|2:33
|
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}
Bonus awards
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-on-espn-29-bonuses-ignacio-bahamondes-josiane-nunes-50000|title=UFC on ESPN 29 bonuses: Ignacio Bahamondes, Josiane Nunes among $50,000 winners|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Staff|date=2021-08-22|access-date=2021-08-23}}
- Fight of the Night: No bonus awarded.
- Performance of the Night: Alexandre Pantoja, Josiane Nunes, William Knight and Ignacio Bahamondes
See also
{{Portal|Martial Arts}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{UFC Events}}
{{2021 in mixed martial arts}}
Category:2021 in mixed martial arts
Category:August 2021 sports events in the United States
Category:2021 in sports in Nevada
Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship events in Enterprise, Nevada