Tag: Kelvin Gastelum

Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman II Reportedly Set For NYC

One of the middleweight division’s best rematches will reportedly happen this fall.

The post Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman II Reportedly Set For NYC appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

A high-profile rematch is nearly set for the UFC middleweight division.

ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reported today that sources have confirmed the UFC is close to finalizing a Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman rematch for November 3’s UFC 230 from New York City, New York.

Both men are decorated former champions, with Weidman infamously ending Anderson Silva’s historic run as champion via shocking second-round knockout at 2013’s UFC 162. He defended the belt three times before losing the title to Rockhold in a brutal fourth-round stoppage at UFC 194 in December 2015.

Weidman has been out of action since an impressive submission victory over current title contender Kelvin Gastelum last July, a fight after which he experienced complications with hand surgery that have kept him sidelined ever since.

Rockhold was last seen losing to Yoel Romero via brutal knockout at February’s UFC 221. The former UFC and Strikeforce 185-pound champ teased a move up to light heavyweight in order to bypass the draining weight cut to 185 pounds but apparently reconsidered the move in order to take the Weidman rematch.

A main event has not been officially confirmed for UFC 230 as of now.

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Robert Whittaker: I Think I’m Better Than Kelvin Gastelum at Everything

Robert Whittaker has the “anything you can do I can do better” mentality when it comes to Kelvin Gastelum. Whittaker will serve as a coach on season 28 of “The Ultimate Fighter” Gastelum will be the opposing coach and both men w…

Robert Whittaker has the “anything you can do I can do better” mentality when it comes to Kelvin Gastelum. Whittaker will serve as a coach on season 28 of “The Ultimate Fighter” Gastelum will be the opposing coach and both men will likely collide sometime next year. The holdup has to do with Whittaker’s hand […]

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Quote: Robert Whittaker May Not Be The Same After Yoel Romero Wars

Will Robert Whittaker bounce back from his wars with Yoel Romero?

The post Quote: Robert Whittaker May Not Be The Same After Yoel Romero Wars appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Following two grueling wars with Yoel Romero, Robert Whittaker will defend his UFC middleweight championship against Kelvin Gastelum after the two coach The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 28.

Gastelum recently discussed Whittaker’s current state during a media scrum (via MMA Fighting), noting that there’s a good chance the champion may not be the same after two back-and-forth brawls with one of MMA’s heaviest hitters:

“I don’t know if he’s going to be the same fighter after these fights. These wars that he’s been in, it takes a toll on the body, so we’ll see how he comes out after this hand surgery.”

Although “Bobby Knuckles” emerged victorious in both five-round fights, there’s no denying the damage he took in both fights, as he was sidelined for 11 months due to knee surgery after the first bout and will now get hand surgery before he returns to meet Gastelum.

We’ve seen fighters engage in brutal battles where, despite perhaps emerging victorious, they aren’t quite the same afterward. Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit’s respective declines following their classic battle at UFC 196 comes to mind, as does Dan Henderson’s fall after his five-round classic with Shogun at UFC 139.

But Whittaker has far fewer miles on his tires compared to those longtime vets, so even though he’s required surgeries after his two bouts with Romero, he could also bounce back more than the older fighters who fell following similar contests.

What do you think? Will Whittaker bounce back strong to take out a surging young contender in Gastelum, or will he show the wear of the wars?

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Gastelum: Whittaker Might Not Be The Same After Romero Wars

Kelvin Gastelum will receive the next shot at the UFC’s middleweight championship. Gastelum will coach opposite 185-pound champion Robert Whittaker on the 28th season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF 28). After that, Whittaker will defend his middlew…

Kelvin Gastelum will receive the next shot at the UFC’s middleweight championship. Gastelum will coach opposite 185-pound champion Robert Whittaker on the 28th season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF 28). After that, Whittaker will defend his middleweight throne against the former TUF winner. Whittaker won the UFC middleweight title by defeating Yoel Romero back at […]

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Robert Whittaker & Kelvin Gastelum to Coach Season 28 of The Ultimate Fighter

The UFC has announced that “The Ultimate Fighter” will return next year, and the current middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will coach the fighters alongside contender Kelvin Gastelum. Whittaker is currently injured with a broken hand a…

The UFC has announced that “The Ultimate Fighter” will return next year, and the current middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will coach the fighters alongside contender Kelvin Gastelum. Whittaker is currently injured with a broken hand after his rematch with Yoel Romero at UFC 225. ??JUST ANNOUNCED: Team @RobWhittakerMMA vs Team @KelvinGastelum set for #TUF28 ? pic.twitter.com/jJ3BUiAzBl — […]

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Breaking: Robert Whittaker & Kelvin Gastelum Set To Fight After Coaching TUF 28

Robert Whittaker has his next opponent set:

The post Breaking: Robert Whittaker & Kelvin Gastelum Set To Fight After Coaching TUF 28 appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has his next opponent set.

Almost a month after he outlasted Yoel Romero in the main event of June 9’s UFC 225, it was revealed that “The Reaper” will coach the upcoming The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 28 opposite top contender Kelvin Gastelum during tonight’s (Fri., July 6, 2018) TUF 27 Finale from Paradise, Nevada.

Gastelum has won four of his last six fights, with his last win a closely-contested split decision over longtime veteran and former Strikeforce champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in the co-main event of May 12’s UFC 224 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He would have five wins in his last six fights if his TKO win over Vitor Belfort in March 2017 had not been overturned due to Gastelum testing positive for *********.

The lone blemish on his record in that span is a submission loss to former champion Chris Weidman last July. There was talk, especially from Whittaker’s manager, that Weidman would be the next challenger for the belt, but with Weidman out of action since beating Gastelum and also losing his prior three fights to his win over the TUF 17 champ, the title shot was given to the much more active fighter.

Whittaker has won his last nine fights in a row, earning a well-deserved reputation as not only one of the most dangerous strikers in the UFC, but also one of its most iron-chinned as well after he was rocked by Romero on numerous occasions only to survive and win on sheer pace and volume at UFC 225.

The two will face off later this year, but an official date and venue has not been announced.

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