Kelvin Gastelum is coming off a split-decision victory over Ronaldo Souza at UFC 224 back in May. After the win, 26-year-old TUF 17 alum says he would not be accepting any other contest unless it would be for the 185-pound title.
Robert Whittaker who successfully defended his middleweight title against Yoel Romero at UFC 225 and now looking to return to Octagon sometime later year and already eyeing a potential defense against former champion Chris Weidman.
According to Gastelum, ‘The Reaper’ is ducking him because he knows I am the toughest fight of his career.
“I know that he’s been offered the fight against me twice and he has not been wanting to fight me,” Gastelum told MMA Fighting. “And I think that’s for good reason. I think I give him the most difficult time if we step in the cage and I think he knows that. In my opinion, I match up horribly for him.”
Gastelum feels he’s most deserving of a title shot against ‘The Reaper,’ but another ex-champ who’s also a front-runner for a title shot. Number three-ranked Weidman defeated Gastelum by submission at UFC On Fox 25 back in 2017 but has been sitting on the shelf due to a bum thumb, believes he should be the one to challenge Whittaker and already foresees how the matchup will finish.
Gastelum who’s riding on two win streak over top contenders, like Michael Bisping and most recently Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza believes Weidman should wait for his turn.
“I don’t know how he feels he deserves it,” Gastelum said. “He’s been injured, he’s been out, unfortunately. But that’s just the way it goes. He says he’s the most decorated fighter, but that’s in the past, man. We’re talking about now. Active fighters, fighters who are winning fights and fighting in the big fights, they should be rewarded. And that should be me.”
“Chris Weidman thinks that he should get the shot over me?. I was ranked ninth when he fought me. He was coming off a three-fight skid. Since we fought, I’ve fought two top-five guys, two former champions.”
Who do you think between Gastelum and Weidman should get a shot at title bout against Whittaker?
