Tag: Kelvin Gastelum

Kelvin Gastelum will finally collide with Robert Whittaker.

Whittaker was set to return to action at the UFC’s upcoming April 17 event against Paulo Costa with the winner likely to be next in line to face middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

However, it was recently revealed that Costa had pulled out of the fight due to illness leaving Whittaker without an opponent. Whittaker was hoping to face Adesanya right away which is what most observers would have preferred.

Instead, Gastelum is stepping in to save the show as he has reportedly replaced Costa and will now face Whittaker on April 17. The news was reported by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.

“The one that got away in 2019, is now scheduled for next month. Per sources, Kelvin Gastelum (@KelvinGastelum) replaces Paulo Costa in April 17 main event against Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma).”

The one that got away in 2019, is now scheduled for next month. Per sources, Kelvin Gastelum (@KelvinGastelum) replaces Paulo Costa in April 17 main event against Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma). pic.twitter.com/qfSrsTrbYq

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) March 16, 2021

Gastelum returned to the win column with a unanimous decision victory over Ian Heinisch at UFC 258 last month. It snapped a three-fight losing streak for the former title challenger.

Whittaker, meanwhile, is on a two-fight winning streak following decision victories over Darren Till and Jared Hermansson.

As mentioned by Okamoto, the pair were initially supposed to compete for the middleweight title in early 2019 only for Whittaker to pull out the night before the fight.

Gastelum, of course, would go on to face Adesanya for the interim middleweight title a few months later and suffer a unanimous decision defeat after a five-round war.

What do you think of this fight?

Kelvin Gastelum is hoping to be the backup for the upcoming Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa fight.

Gastelum finally returned to the win column after a unanimous decision victory over Ian Heinisch on the UFC 258 main card last night. It snapped a three-fight losing streak for the former interim title challenger as he earned his first victory in nearly three years.

Now, he’s looking to get back into title contention.

First, he has to talk to his team, management and UFC president Dana White to see what options are next for him. But when it comes to his personal preference, he would like to be the backup for the Whittaker vs. Costa fight.

“I’ll have to go back and talk to my team, talk to my management, talk to Dana (White), and see what the options are from here,” Gastelum said at the UFC 258 post-fight press conference (via MMA News). “I did mention if anyone steps out in the Robert Whittaker-Paulo Costa fight, I’d be willing to step up if something happens to either one of those fighters.”

The Whittaker vs. Costa fight is currently slated for April 17 with the winner expected to challenge Israel Adesanya for the title next.

However, according to Ariel Helwani, that fight could be moved up to April 10.

“Gastelum says he would like to be the backup option if Robert Whittaker or Paulo Costa have to withdraw from their April bout. That one is currently slated for April 17, however, there was talk this week, sources say, of moving it to April 10. No final decision yet, I’m told.”

Gastelum says he would like to be the backup option if Robert Whittaker or Paulo Costa have to withdraw from their April bout. That one is currently slated for April 17, however, there was talk this week, sources say, of moving it to April 10. No final decision yet, I’m told.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 14, 2021

Regardless, the timeline works for Gastelum who took little damage in his fight with Heinisch.

Do you think Gastelum should be the backup for that fight?