The mini-middleweight match is over, and after Robert Whittaker dominated Kelvin Gastelum on Saturday night time, he is prone to be the following foe for Israel Adesanya. Whittaker supplied a whole efficiency towards one of many hardest fighters within the sport, incomes his third straight win since he misplaced his title to Adesanya in 2019. Now, he seems to be able to as soon as once more battle for the gold.
However earlier than Whittaker made his stroll, Tracy Cortez made hers. Whereas weigh-in challenges have remained, Cortez has proven nice expertise within the Octagon. Is she on the trail to being ranked?
Ariel Helwani, Brett Okamoto and Marc Raimondi react to UFC Combat Evening: Whittaker vs. Gastelum.
Helwani: Case closed
The talk, the race, the match, the no matter you need to name it to find out the No. 1 middleweight contender is formally over. The winner: Robert Whittaker.
Fact be informed, he already had this locked up. His two wins over Darren Till and Jared Cannonier final 12 months had been seemingly sufficient. However, in case somebody thought it must be another person — primarily Marvin Vettori or Derek Brunson — he ended all of that Saturday night time.
Whittaker as soon as once more reminded us all why he is one of many easiest middleweights on the planet. He pitched a shutout towards the all the time sport Kelvin Gastelum, successful the battle 50-45 on my scorecard. In need of some type of spectacular end, it was the type of efficiency he wanted to safe that title shot, and that he did.
So, the query now just isn’t whether or not he will get the title shot subsequent — for I might be shocked if it did not occur — however the place does it occur?
Does the UFC dare journey to Australia or New Zealand, locations that some may say are coping with this pandemic higher than we’re in North America? Lord is aware of they’ll promote a ton of tickets, similar to they did again in 2019 (50,000+, in reality). Or, do they do it in Vegas? That will be type of a disgrace contemplating how huge this battle can be in Oceania.
The UFC can fear about all that in a bit. For now, let’s have fun Whittaker: a person who has been open about his psychological well being struggles, a household man who briefly paused his profession after the Adesanya loss to regain his love of the game.
He has all the time executed it proper. At all times represented the game, the UFC, his workforce and his nation with class and dignity. So, I’m comfortable one of many good guys is getting one other crack on the belt he misplaced lower than two years in the past.
As for Vettori, I am positive he is bummed proper now, however he should not be. He is one away. Match him up towards Brunson subsequent, and if he wins that, he ought to get the winner of Adesanya-Whittaker 2. No questions requested.
Identical to there must be no query who Adesanya’s subsequent title challenger is: Bobby Knuckles.
Okamoto: Who’s subsequent?
Who must be subsequent for Robert Whittaker: Israel Adesanya
There isn’t a debate. Whittaker is the apparent No. 1 middleweight contender. And actually, I am undecided he should not nonetheless be someplace on ESPN’s pound-for-pound listing. He is received 12 of his final 13. Two of these wins had been title fights. His final three victories have been five-round most important occasions, towards among the easiest contenders of the division in Darren Till, Jared Cannonier and Kelvin Gastelum.
Neither the UFC nor Adesanya has appeared all that on this rematch, however Whittaker has formally pressured their palms at this level. I am very a lot trying ahead to it.
Wild card: Paulo Costa
I am unable to consider any cause why Whittaker would not get the title battle. Certain, let’s make Costa the wild card situation, however we may listing anybody as Whittaker’s wild card. The rematch is subsequent, and everybody appears to lastly understand it now.
Who must be subsequent for Kelvin Gastelum: Loser of Uriah Hall vs. Chris Weidman on April 24
It sounds cliché to say Gastelum does not lose something on this loss — so, I will not say it. Though I need to.
Regardless of dropping each spherical, Gastelum saved coming ahead, nonetheless throwing with unhealthy intentions. He took this battle on shorter discover and it is not the tip of the world for him. However, he does lose one thing on this loss. He does not lose any respect within the sport, however his file is now 1-Four in his final 5. He is misplaced a number of floor on this division, and it’ll take time for him to achieve it again.
He has historical past with Corridor and Weidman, dropping to each of them. He and Corridor have change into shut since they fought on The Final Fighter in 2013, however a rematch would make sense within the rankings and there is a story behind it. Weidman, with a loss, would fall into his personal poor stretch of outcomes, however from a rankings perspective, would additionally make sense.
Wild card: Welterweight
Gastelum has all the time expressed curiosity in a return to welterweight, the place he hasn’t fought since 2016. He missed weight a number of instances as a 170-pounder, and was principally pressured to maneuver up by the UFC.
If he had been to workforce up with the UFC’s PI and dedicate himself extra to weight administration, I consider the UFC would permit him to strive once more. I am not in favor of fellows chopping huge quantities of weight, however I may see welterweight being an actual choice for Gastelum, as soon as he addresses his choices.
Raimondi: Cortez might be contender if she will get weight so as
Within the first spherical Saturday, Tracy Cortez seemed like a world beater. She tripped Justine Kish to the canvas and threw down some depraved floor and pound from guard. She was quick, aggressive and highly effective. Kish scrambled out, and Cortez took her again. The primary was a borderline 10-Eight for Cortez.
However after that, it was clear Cortez’s weight minimize caught up together with her. She missed weight by a half-pound Friday and has had points with weight up to now. Cardio turned a difficulty for Cortez after the primary spherical, and Kish was in a position to come again a bit. Cortez nonetheless received by break up determination, however it shouldn’t have been as shut.
There are very excessive hopes for Cortez from her camp at Combat Prepared in Arizona. Her coaches, Santino DeFranco and Eddie Cha, have raved lately about Cortez being somebody to observe as she climbs the flyweight ladder. This camp, she labored lots with former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo, a former Olympic gold medalist in wrestling. Cortez has all the talents to be very harmful at 125 kilos — a wide-open division — however she must get her weight minimize sorted earlier than she might be thought of a bona fide contender. There’s excellent news, although. Cortez is barely 27 years outdated. She has time to determine all of it out and sure will.