Current 185-pound champ Robert Whittaker was coming off a unanimous decision win over Cuban striker Yoel Romero at UFC 225 last month. Over the past few weeks, former titleholder Chris Weidman and middleweight contenders Kelvin Gastelum verbally arguing who deserve the title shot against Whittaker.
Chris Weidman who already defeated Gastelum via submission back in 2017, that’s the reason ‘“All American” feels he’ll be next in line for a title bout against division’s kingpin Robert Whittaker.
Whittaker who underwent successful hand surgery last month and according to Whittaker’s manager Titus Day, ‘The Reaper’ is already targeting a return to defend his title against the former champion Weidman at UFC 231 in November.
“Madison Square Garden is a possibility,” Day told The Daily Telegraph of Whittaker’s next fight, insisting Whittaker’s broken hand should be healed by then.
“Rob’s the middleweight champ and his last two fights have been wars. So if his hand heals up as quickly as we’re hoping, we would definitely push for him to compete at the greatest fight arena in the world. And Chris Weidman, as the former champ, would be a perfect rival for that fight.
“I’ve spoken to Rob this week and he definitely wants to be ready by the end of the year.
“His surgery went well, it was a clean break which is the best you can get, and there doesn’t seem to have been any complications. So if all goes well, we’ll definitely look at that New York card. It’s traditionally one of the biggest on the UFC calendar and after the way Rob has won his last two fights over in the States, there is huge interest in him now.”
Weidman, currently nursing an injury. He hadn’t competed since July of 2017 when he submitted Gastelum, but before this win, he was on a three-fight losing skid. Moreover, Weidman holds impressive wins over the likes of Vitor Belfort, Lyoto Machida, Demian Maia, and Anderson Silva.
Does a showdown between Whittaker and Weidman interests you?
