Weidman and Gastelum battle over middleweight title chance.
The gloves are off in the Twitter-verse. There’s always something about Conor McGregor, Khabib rumors are swirling, and we’re hearing whispers about Jon Jones vs. Brock Lesnar. Meanwhile, Chris Weidman and Kelvin Gastelum are battling over their middleweight title chances to face the champ, Robert Whittaker.
To say watching the banter has been fun would be an understatement.
After Robert Whittaker edged out Yoel Romero in a non-title fight at UFC 225, UFC fans were quick to match-make for the champ. Unfortunately, Whittaker suffered a broken hand during the Romero fight, and an exact timeline on his return has not been announced.
We recently asked the question, “What’s Next for Robert Whittaker?” and low and behold, both of these guys made the list… imagine that. The unfortunate break for Whittaker has allowed the UFC, its fans, and its fighters some extra time to determine his next opponent.
Chris Weidman
The 34 year-old Weidman holds a 14-3 record and is the number three contender according to UFC. Standing in at 6’2″ and fighting out of Baldwin, N.Y., the wrestler enjoys a 78-inch reach, and has won multiple “Fight of the Night” and “Knockout of the Night” honors.
After three straight losses (all by way of knockout,) dating back to December of 2015, Weidman won his last fight against none other than Kelvin Gastelum. Weidman submitted Gastelum in the third round back in July of 2017.
Kelvin Gastelum
Gastelum is 16-3 (with one no contest) in his professional career. The 26-year-old fights out of Yuma, Ariz., and stands three inches shorter than Weidman at 5-foot-9. Gastelum’s reach is 71 inches, putting him at a seven-inch disadvantage in the category.
Gastelum is the winner of his last two battles, knocking out Michael Bisbing in November of 2017, and earning a split decision victory versus the number five middleweight contender, Ronaldo Souza. We’ve already touched on Gastelum’s loss to Weidman back in July, but he also beat Johnny Hendricks by unanimous decision, and knocked out Tim Kennedy in 2016.
Weidman and Gastelum Battle Over Middleweight Title Chance
These two are pulling no punches as they posture for the opportunity to go head to head with Robert Whittaker. It began with Gastelum’s tweet in Weidman’s direction, throwing shade at Weidman, even suggesting that Whittaker should go head-to-head with Rockefeller Center’s famed Christmas Tree.
CHRISPY
If…
-your argument for consideration for a title shot is based upon being the "most decorated", then Whittaker should fight the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center this Fall…— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) June 13, 2018
Not to be outdone, Weidman fired back at Gastelum with a shot of his own:
😟Chrispy??? Now it’s personal…my argument is simple. I am ranked ahead of YOU and I finished YOU in my last fight. https://t.co/EaqAPvdINm
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) June 14, 2018
The reality is, the middle weight division is a train-wreck. Weidman won the July 2017 fight against Gastelum, so Gastelum is probably finished, or close to it. Without question, Weidman needed to win that fight. But given his 1-3 record in his last four fights, is he, can he, really be next in line for a title shot?
On the other side, as the number four contender Gastelum is clearly below Weidman in the pecking order. Again, that all changes with a Gastelum victory in July of 2017. The way it stands now, how can Gastelum leapfrog the No. 3 contender, an opponent he’s lost to?
Both men have been successful on at least 50 percent of takedown attempts. Weidman holds 10 submissions, which is in stark contrast to Gastelum who has two. However, Gastelum has the hands for this fight, finishing seven wins by way of knockout, six of them in the first round.
Truthfully, these two need to settle it in the octagon. Whittaker wont be back for a while, which means the UFC has time to put the right opponent in front of him. Given the current state of the middleweight division, they need to.
