I’m sure Kelvin Gastelum is going to blow a gasket when he reads this, but unfortunately for the former welterweight, his last loss at 185 pounds came by way of submission against ex-middleweight champion, Chris Weidman.
That’s probably why the “All American” will be next in line for a crack at reigning division kingpin, Robert Whittaker, who underwent successful hand surgery last month and is already targeting a late fall return.
Just in time for the promotion’s return to the “World’s Most Famous Arena.”
“Madison Square Garden is a possibility,” manager Titus Day told Daily Telegraph. “And Chris Weidman, as the former champ, would be a perfect rival for that fight. 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.”
The event is expected to be numbered UFC 231.
Weidman (14-3) sits at No. 3 in the official rankings (see them here), behind Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero. The former is moving up to light heavyweight while the latter is coming off his second title loss to “The Reaper.”
The only knock against the “All American,” who hails from Long Island and typically competes on the “Empire State” fight cards, is that he hasn’t competed in nearly a year and went into his Gastelum bout on a three-fight losing streak.
Not that it stopped him from being “the most decorated guy in the division.”