If there’s one thing that can be said about former middleweight champion Chris Weidman, it’s that he doesn’t believe in going through life without challenges.
Because, currently riding a three fight losing streak, the New Yorker is set to face rising up and comer Kelvin Gastelum as the UFC returns to New York State in July for UFC on FOX 25. While it represents an incredible opportunity for Gastelum, it marks yet another dangerous opponent for Weidman, who has been put away violently in his last three outings.
After losing to Mousasi (even if it was in bizarre fashion), there were plenty of calls for him to take a tune-up fight in order to get himself back on track, but clearly Weidman feels differently.
For Gastelum, the Weidman fight gives him a significant step up in competition, even in light of his recent USADA troubles (Gastelum failed an in-competition test for marijuana metabolites, and has been suspended for a month, itself a suspension reduced from three months).
The The Ultimate Fighter season 17 winner was supposed to face Anderson Silva in Brazil at UFC 212, but was pulled from that card. In Weidman, he faces an opponent no less important to his flourishing career.
UFC on FOX 25 takes place July 22, in Long Island, New York at the Nassau Coliseum.
