How many times do we have to go through this with Kelvin Gastelum?
He has missed weight, not once, not twice, but three times in the 170-pound weight class, prompting UFC President Dana White to say (more than once) that Kelvin would never fight at welterweight again.
He has had just about as much success at middleweight as he has at welterweight. Despite last night’s result, the fight was competitive, with Gastelum dropping Weidman in the first round before eventually succumbing to an arm triangle in the third. He himself claimed above that if he had had thirty more seconds, he could have finished Weidman. Prior to that, he retired Tim Kennedy and knocked out Vitor Belfort. Another young former welterweight, Robert Whittaker, is even the middleweight interim champion and almost certainly the actual best middleweight on earth (though Michael Bisping will get his chance to prove otherwise after Whittaker returns from a knee injury)
Yet, all of this is not enough for young Kelvin. He insists on trying to compete in a weight class that he either does not have the discipline or the ability to cut to safely; a division in which he has already lost to the reigning champion.
I feel like 170 as my home. I feel like I need to reassess some things, change lifestyle up a little bit. I’m already planning on going to Vegas to the UFC Institute — they have great dietitians there I’m going to be working with, and strength and conditioning coaches I’m going to be working with. I think my next fight should be at 170. That’s what I’m going to push for.
Previous changes to his diet and training have ultimately been unsuccessful; it remains to be seen how the UFC brass will react to Kelvin’s insistence.
An Awkward Interview
Jon Jones was asked by Brian Stann last night if there was any way he would ever respect Daniel Cormier.
“F*** DC,” Jones said flatly. It was the most emotional he got. As soon as he could see Stann was wrapping up, Jones stood, shedding his microphone.
The two had gone back and forth in an interview that lacked the fire, but none of the bile between the two embittered rivals. The result was a tense and awkward conversation.
“It seems that the hatred has only grown. How do you manage that, one week from now, better than you did in the first fight?” Stann asked Cormier
“Well, a lot of times, before, I would let it just- it would drive me. Now, it’s whatever, you know? I am the champion. It doesn’t matter what Jon Jones says. I am the champion, I’m going to remain the champion next weekend, and I’m going to put this little chapter in a long and storied career behind me.”
That last part isn’t true, of course. If Cormier wins, he will be looking at a trilogy fight with Jones, probably right away.
They then went back and forth, with Cormier asserting that he is the champion without beating Jones because Jones beat himself, and Jones’ reply was what it has always been:
That shit doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter at all. In Daniel’s heart, he knows he hasn’t beaten me. If he really can go to sleep at night feeling like a champion, you know, it’s whatever.”
Cormier interrupted him, asserting that yes, he does in fact go to bed every night feeling like a champion, and in fact doesn’t care about the narrative, only the fact that they would finally be locked in a cage together again. Jones said and listened.
Cool.
That’s when Stann asked his question about respect, and Jones response was as comprehensive as it was succinct. “F*** DC.” For Jones, a victorious return WOULD allow him to put DC in his rearview mirror, something that both men seem to want at this point. Of everyone, the two on camera are the most fed up with each other. For them, and for us, next weekend and UFC 214 cannot arrive soon enough.
Sunday Funday
Chris Weidman def. Michael Bisping by Twitter KO, 23 days into July.
Bitch
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) July 23, 2017
For Gastelum, Weidman had considerably more respect.
Damn, @ChrisWeidmanUFC is a beast!! Congratulations to you sir! #UFCLongIand
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) July 23, 2017
It was an honor ! You have a bright future ! Your the man !! https://t.co/WXzu98qq5L
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) July 23, 2017
Gastelum dropped Weidman hard in the first round. It was a punch that nearly shattered the dimensional barriers and put Weidman in the Upside Down, judging from this picture:
Insane moment captured by @allelbows. Kelvin Gastelum landed this left hand with such force, Chris Weidman's face rippled in two directions. pic.twitter.com/sR4nbK8o5r
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) July 23, 2017
Weidman had his own moments on the feet, of course, but Gastelum didn’t make it easy on him. Perhaps this was what Coach Edmond thought Ronda should have been doing against Nunes:
When 'head movement' works. This is hilarious. H/T @redditmma. pic.twitter.com/AADwpJ7CBw
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) July 23, 2017
That’s cold
Rafael Cordeiro left hanging #UFCLongIsland pic.twitter.com/jhlxWbofkS
— Zombie Prophet (@ZPGIFs) July 23, 2017
Not everyone got their moment of glory after winning last night. Chase Sherman was particularly disappointed:
Me waiting for my post Fight interview pic.twitter.com/vj3KdOsAGg
— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) July 23, 2017
That’s an uppercut, but okay. Still a ridiculous face-plant of a knockout from Alex Oliveira.
COWBOY UP!
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) July 22, 2017
Alex Oliveira's check hook on Ryan LaFlare was incredible! That's four straight wins! #UFCLongIsland https://t.co/2WcPxGXXVP
Just some UFC fighters, dressed up as Street Fighter characters, for the In a Dream challenge...
#InADreamChallenge #SDCC2017 #StreetFighter #Sagat #Sakura #Elena pic.twitter.com/ljmMRhtyc4
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) July 23, 2017
Angela Hill always has fun with the costumes
Soooo... we dressed up. #StreetFighter #Elena #AllianceMMA #SDCC2017 pic.twitter.com/uPWGUrxbId
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) July 22, 2017
Meanwhile, in the welterweight division, Jorge Masvidal says he has a fight booked. Could it be against Stephen Thompson?
The coward finally speaks after knowing I'm booked already smh different day same #bitch story from the capt of #ssHoseason
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) July 22, 2017
People can be a special breed of stupid when it comes to martial arts and the McGregor-Mayweather fight, and this guy combines those into the most amazing stupid take I’ve seen so far.
Unchallenged best hot take ever. This is in the comments on a Bruce Lee 'be water' video on FB. Gold Mine @lucas_bourdon @Grabaka_Hitman pic.twitter.com/ANbpOIympz
— Smirs (@BabaSmirs) July 21, 2017
What is this outfit? Is that standard bicycling wear? It looks like what those bodybuilders in the gym wear so that they can claim to be wearing a shirt.
Always respect work ethic. pic.twitter.com/9wHChVAk9E
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 22, 2017
Podcasts and Video
Tyron Woodley’s Champ Camp Episode 4
Luke Thomas’ post-fight show
What to make of #UFCLongIsland? Weidman's redemption? Gastelum's future? Here's my post-fight show: https://t.co/moKNqW9T5W
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) July 23, 2017
In Other Worlds
There was plenty of other combat sports action happening this weekend around the globe.
he tried to run away ?
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 23, 2017
Ryo Okada KOs Kanamonoya no Hide in 1R pic.twitter.com/b4isAaQOsF
Kazumasa Majima KOs Yuji Hoshino in 2R pic.twitter.com/xzh2DEOnd5
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 23, 2017
knee and punch, niceee
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 23, 2017
Shoko Sato T/KOs Reuben Duran and ...he wants to UFC pic.twitter.com/7ukjC2VpRO
DAYUM. 10 second KO by Łukasz Pilch at #ACB65. Fantastic celebration. pic.twitter.com/6y844JtF7D
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 22, 2017
flying knee; punch, punch to the body - Alexey Polpudnikov TKOs Donald Sanchez in 1R #ACB65 pic.twitter.com/Ya89t7iGB8
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 22, 2017
Aaron Robinson submits Adam Caffrey in 1R #ACB65 pic.twitter.com/4alMq1qUzj
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 22, 2017
You almost never see this work in MMA- the ankle lock counter to crossing the feet from back mount.
Sergei #Kharitonov amazing submission in fight with Geronimo "Mondragon" Dos Santos on #M1Challenge81. #MMA pic.twitter.com/LWZQr88Eyw
— M-1 Global (@M1GlobalNews) July 22, 2017
Weili Zhang TKOs Ye Dam Seo in 2R to become the 1st SW TFC Champion pic.twitter.com/BRhfplseEM
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 22, 2017
The referee allowed
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 22, 2017
Petchtae Sor.Jor.Toypaetrew TKOd Petchnaka Mor.Muanglopburi
Anyway we all love hellbows (Thairath MT Fighter) pic.twitter.com/6agXJw430j
Arman Ashimov (Kazakhstan) KOs Gadzhimurad Aliev in 2R
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 22, 2017
A rare thing in FlW
(M-1 Challenge 81) pic.twitter.com/YXLdBZRnjD
Hellbow pic.twitter.com/6fQBTZnjKn
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 22, 2017
a knee to the body
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 22, 2017
Suayngam Pumpanmuang KOs Jomvo Mor.Rajabhatbnatburram (The Champion MT) pic.twitter.com/hDOZmxK3kW
Great win for UFC veteran Joe Riggs
Joe Riggs TKOs Dmitry Samoilov in 3R - HL (M-1 Challenge 81) pic.twitter.com/0gQKVk2b8h
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 22, 2017
Beautiful spinning hook kick.
perfection
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 22, 2017
Ingiskhan Ozdoev KOs Spencer Jebb (M-1) pic.twitter.com/Rk3PZliRyN
Kyu-Sung Kim KOs Min-Joo Lee in 1R (TFC15 ) pic.twitter.com/M6vmiEQy9r
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 22, 2017
Ryo Sakai is a real warrior pic.twitter.com/XCbBJHalYe
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) July 22, 2017
Random Land
Caught this elephant being responsible!
An Elephant Got Caught on Security Camera Picking Up Trash and Putting it in a Garbage Can pic.twitter.com/zXOn4X6l95
— Life on Earth (@planetepics) July 20, 2017
Sand and bicycles don’t mix.
Hold my beer while I ride my bike in the sand pic.twitter.com/okvbvPmwgU
— Hold My Beer (@HoldThisBeer) July 16, 2017
Great note to leave you on
Hulk Hogan riding a motorcycle while some guy just chucks a dog into the river. pic.twitter.com/4QNwzAqJvH
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) July 22, 2017
Enjoy your Sunday, Maniacs!