Kelvin Gastelum was supposed to headline UFC 234 against UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker, but Whittaker pulled out of the fight due to a severe abdominal injury that lead to surgery.
Israel Adesanya wound up defeating Anderson Silva by decision in the main event, but Gastelum doesn’t feel that victory should make Adesanya a top contender for the middleweight strap.
“He beat a 43-year old Anderson Silva. I’m not sure that’s a claim for a title shot. But if the UFC decides he’s No. 1 contender and gets to skips the five guys in front of him, then so be it. I guess I will fight the No. 1 contender and defend my title,” Gastelum said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show (via MMA Mania).
Adesanya sits at #5 in the UFC Middleweight Division rankings, with Gastelum being one spot in front of him.
Gastelum says that Adesanya may deserve a title shot in the end, but doesn’t think the performance at UFC 234 merits one.
“He’s not over-hyped. I mean it is in a way but he deserves it. He talks well, fights well, but the performance he showed on Saturday was not title-worthy in my opinion. It was all just very exciting theatrics. When I fight, I put guys away. He wasn’t able to put a 43-year old Anderson away. I felt I would’ve done a different sort of job,” says Gastelum.
Whittaker may be out of action for up to four weeks, possibly longer, meaning it could be awhile before anybody gets a title shot.
