Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Two middleweight contenders will collide for a spot in the crowded 185-pound title chase when Jack Hermansson goes to war against Kelvin Gastelum in the upcoming UFC “Fight Night” co-main event on Sat., July 18, 2020, via ESPN+ from Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
Hermansson was originally in talks to square off against former middleweight kingpin Chris Weidman; however, travel restrictions put that bout on hold. “All American” will instead settle for a stateside battle opposite Omari Akhmedov on Aug. 8 in Las Vegas.
That’s just fine with “The Joker.”
“I don’t think Chris was ready to fight on this card,” Hermansson told MMA Junkie. “Gastelum wanted to fight me, I wanted to fight him. We asked the UFC if we could make it happen, we could, so I think the outcome was even better than I thought so I’m super happy with this fight. I’m looking forward to it. Gastelum is a little bit more up-to-date. Weidman has a big name, but it’s a little bit about the rankings as well. I want to move forward and I feel like Gastelum is the right fight to do that.”
Weidman dropped out of the middleweight rankings after losing five of his last six.
Hermansson (20-5) was perhaps one or two fights away from a division title shot, but the heavy hands of Jared Cannonier recently put an end to his four-fighting win streak. The 31 year-old “Joker” now stands at 7-3 inside the Octagon.
As for Gastelum (15-5, 1 NC), who suffered an injury to his LCL back in January, he desperately needs a victory to keep himself afloat in the middleweight Top 10 (see it here), having already dropped back-to-back contests to Israel Adesanya and Darren Till.
For the rest of the July 18 fight card and line up click here.