Kevin Gastelum’s callout of Tyron Woodley completely backfired on social media.
Earlier this week, reigning UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley hinted of a move up to the middleweight division in the near future.
”People in the middleweight (division), they need to watch out too,” Woodley said. “I might slide up on one of y’all by the end of the year.
“Wipe out the division clean at welterweight and go up there and either beat (Kelvin) Gastelum up again or take out Robert Whittaker. They are both welterweights anyways. They just don’t know how to cut weight.”
Woodley’s interview caught the attention of Gastelum, who dropped a a split decision to ‘T-Wood’ back in 2015.
Gastelum, who is scheduled to challenge Robert Whittaker for the middleweight title at UFC 234, told Woodley that he wouldn’t be able to hang with him at 185 lbs.
Haha @TWooodley has never wanted this smoke after we fought the 1st time! He can’t compete at MW ??? https://t.co/NxXkOawHlT
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) January 15, 2019
Gastelum’s diss prompted a response from Woodley’s teammate and friend, Ben Askren, who told the Kings MMA fighter to ‘get real.’
Hey fat boy he beat you with a broken foot and you didn’t come within 10lbs of making weight. I love me some trash talk, but you should get real. https://t.co/UdHribiIAt
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) January 15, 2019
MMA manager Abe Kawa also weighed in, telling Gastelum that he stands no chance against Woodley at 185-pounds.
Woodley best you when you weighed in at middle weight. Imagine when he doesn’t have to cut ??? @TWooodley https://t.co/F6zL893b9N
— Ibrahim Kawa (@Abraham_kawa) January 15, 2019
The insults didn’t stop there, as one critical fan seemed to rub Gastelum the wrong way.
Do you laught at the fact that hours prior weigh ins, I was in an emergency hospital bed with doctors filling me with iv fluids!? My mother crying, thinking I’m going to die? …
Still went to weigh ins!
Still fought to a split dec! And forever ridiculed ??? https://t.co/5ojwwLR7CO— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) January 16, 2019
Before there’s any talk of a Woodley-Gastelum rematch, Woodley will first have to defend his welterweight title against Kamaru Usman, who he meets in the UFC 235 co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Gastelum will meet Whittaker next month, Feb. 10 in the UFC 234 main event at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia.