MMA

UFC on FOX 25: Chris Weidman submits Kelvin Gastelum, calls out Bisping

Published

3 years ago

July 22, 2017

Former middleweight champion Chris Weidman was able to get back to his winning ways tonight in front of his friends and family in Long Island. Weidman’s 3-fight losing streak came to an end by taking advantage of a size and reach advantage against a tough out in TUF 17 winner Kelvin Gastelum.

Weidman fought a near perfect first round before getting dropped by Gastelum at the end of the opening round with a vicious right hand that resulted in a flash knockout. Weidman was able to recover in his corner and continue to implement his game plan in the second round.

OHHH!! A speedy left from @KelvinGastelum knocks down Weidman! #UFCLongIsland pic.twitter.com/Qwubh8iENw

— UFC (@ufc) July 23, 2017

“The All-American” would hit 7 of his 13 takedowns (besting his old record of 5) and would outstrike his opponent 75-28 before securing the finish via an arm triangle choke that forced the tap at the 3:45 marker of the 3rd stanza.

Weidman would go on to call out current middleweight champ Michael Bisping following his emotional victory — which would beg the question — who’s to stop him from getting the next crack at “The Count”?

Looks like @ChrisWeidmanUFC has a message for the MW division, and a particular British foe … 😱 #UFCLongIsland pic.twitter.com/uWyZmT00Sd

— UFC (@ufc) July 23, 2017

“Lastly, that British bum, who’s crying in his freakin’ house right now, I’m back baby. I’m back… Stop hiding from the real men. Let’s go baby. I’m the champ and everybody knows it.”

With current interim champ Robert Whittaker currently on the shelf until 2018 with a medial ligament injury to his left knee, Luke Rockhold already matched up, and Yoel Romero and ‘Jacare’ Souza currently coming off losses – timing is everything for Weidman. Bisping versus Weidman is a PPV caliber main event (Madison Square Garden in November anyone?) and everybody knows that the UFC is struggling to get buys this year. This is a match up that would likely pull an above average buyrate and it actually makes the most sense, with Whittaker getting the crack at the winner in 2018. Let’s see if the UFC and Michael Bisping agree. I have a strong feeling they will.

UPDATE: Bisping was quick to respond.