Report | UFC working to put together Robert Whittaker vs Kelvin Gastelum

The question for Australia’s first UFC champion, the middleweight king, Robert Whittaker is “who’s next”? Well, we’re close to getting the answer.

After an incredible fight of the year candidate with Yoel Romero in their title rematch at UFC 225, Whittaker came out on top with a split decision nod.

It’s now time to move on and the question has been against who? The Ultimate Fighter season 17 winner, Kelvin Gastelum, and former middleweight champion, Chris Weidman have been the two top options.

Ariel Helwani now reports that Gastelum will be the one to next challenge for Whittaker’s crown.

UFC is in serious discussions to book Robert Whittaker vs. Kelvin Gastelum for the middleweight title next, according to multiple sources. Two horse race between Gastelum and Weidman, as you know, and Gastelum got the nod. Now it just needs to get finalized. More @espn soon.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 6, 2018

UFC is in serious discussions to book Robert Whittaker vs. Kelvin Gastelum for the middleweight title next, according to multiple sources. Two horse race between Gastelum and Weidman, as you know, and Gastelum got the nod. Now it just needs to get finalized. More @espn soon.

Gastelum’s only loss since 2015 and only loss at 185 pounds has come to Weidman. Since that fight though, Weidman has remained on the sideline due to an injury to his thumb while Gastelum has fought and won twice. Those two wins coming over former champion, Michael Bisping in impressive fashion with the other coming over the perennial top contender, Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza in a back and forth battle at UFC 224 in Brazil.

At UFC 225, due to Romero’s weight missing incident, the fight was in a bit of question briefly as to whether or not it would happen. Dana White would have liked the backup plan to replace Romero against Whittaker to be Gastelum. However, he wasn’t needed or able to make the weight anyway.

But that doesn’t mean that Gastelum hasn’t been asking for his first career title shot and now he’s going to get it.

on 7/6/2018