Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman snapped his three-fight losing skid last night in New York, defeating surging contender Kelvin Gastelum via third-round submission (arm triangle choke) in the main event of UFC on FOX 25.
The 25-year-old, Gastelum, did have his moments in the fight including a first-round knockdown of the “All American” after he caught Weidman with a beautiful left hand.
I know Chris Weidman just won, but @allelbows may have captured one of the craziest punchfaces I’ve ever seen. pic.twitter.com/oxEa7FuPNW
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) July 23, 2017
Unfortunately for fans of Gastelum, the horn sounded to end round one before Kelvin could deliver enough ground and pound to put Chris Weidman away.
Gastelum spoke about the knockdown at the UFC on FOX 25 post-fight press conference and detailed how much more time he would have needed in order to secure the finish.
“At least 30 seconds. I wanted 30 more seconds, and I could’ve finished the fight!”
Gastelum would go on to say that he hopes to return to the UFC’s welterweight (170 pound) division in his next contest.
“He felt really big, he felt really strong. These things happen. Coming into the fight, you’ve got a 50 percent chance of winning and you’ve got a 50 percent chance of losing. He caught me fair and square.”
Kelvin continued:
“I feel like 170 is my home. I feel like I need to reassess some things and change my lifestyle up a little bit. I’m already planning on going to Las Vegas to the UFC Performance Institute. They have great dietitians there that I’m going to be working with and strength and conditioning coaches that I’m going to be working with. I think my next fight should be 170 (pounds).”
Who would you like to see Gastelum fight next if the UFC grants him his wish and allows Kelvin to return to welterweight? Sound off PENN Nation!