Robert Whittaker wants Chris Weidman or Luke Rockhold at the end of the year.

[KazDibiase]

Speaking to Lucas Grandsire, Whittaker gave his own updates on his injury recovery, and he sounded a little less aggressive on the possibility of returning in 2018.



“It’s hard to say right now,” Whittaker said of his potential recover time, “but I think looking towards the end of the year most likely, maybe early next year I think is realistic. Because like I just mentioned, then, it’s going to be 3-4 months just to get through the rehab. That’s not training gameplans, that’s not training striking patterns. That’s just trying to get back to where I was before the fight.”

Whether it’s at MSG in November or not, however, he sounded just as bullish on the idea of fighting Weidman – or even possibly Luke Rockhold – rather than taking a bout with Kelvin Gastelum.



“You know, I think Weidman’s looking pretty good,” Whittaker said, when asked about possible next opponents. “I think Rockhold’s looking pretty good. Rockhold was next in line, then he took a fight he didn’t have to with Romero after Romero missed weight by a much bigger margin than he did with me. So, he’s still up there. Weidman, he’s still up there as a top contender. Gastelum? I think Gastelum needs to beat either Rockhold or Weidman to truly put himself in prime position. But yeah, there’s some top dogs up there and all that.”

https://www.bloodyelbow.com/platfor...elum-needs-win-over-weidman-rockhold-mma-news

 

[The-AxeMurderer]

Weidman vs Jacare

And

Gastelum vs Rockhold in the mean time.

 

[Njmma209]

Be careful what you wish for Bobby Knux.

Weidman about to strangle him into Bolivian and regain the belt

 

[MMAcolyte]

Weidman vs Jacare

And

Gastelum vs Rockhold in the mean time.

Perfect idea

 

[Toco]

wow holy shit, I'm really not a whittaker fan anymore. he's asking for easy ass matchups after getting gifted a decision. rockhold just lost and weidman is 1-3 and hasn't fought for a year or something. gastelum is the guy next for him

 

[Sansnom]

Chris Weidman, really. Got finished 3 times in a row and almost got knocked out by Gastellum.

Cmon Whittaker, I thought you were better than that. Ducking Gastelum?

 

[Sansnom]

wow holy shit, I'm really not a whittaker fan anymore. he's asking for easy ass matchups after getting gifted a decision. rockhold just lost and weidman is 1-3 and hasn't fought for a year or something. gastelum is the guy next for him

I'm disappointed, I thought Whittaker was the type to take on anyone.

He probably doesn't want to mess with another guy with dynamites in his hands after having been beat the crap out of by Yoel.

 

[KazDibiase]

Weidman vs Jacare

And

Gastelum vs Rockhold in the mean time.

A good and fair idea bro

 

[KeepItRealist]

Chris Weidman, really. Got finished 3 times in a row and almost got knocked out by Gastellum.

Cmon Whittaker, I thought you were better than that. Ducking Gastelum?

Almost knocked out? He got knocked down and subbed Gastelum. Not a compelling argument. Gastelum was given a dream fight with Bisping after he just got choked out. Still don't understand why the UFC allowed it.

 

[KazDibiase]

Be careful what you wish for Bobby Knux.

Weidman about to strangle him into Bolivian and regain the belt

Hahaha i can see the board right now, Sherdoggers will be pissed if he become champion again.

 

[Toco]

holy shit that's really amazing. he wants weidman, who's 1-3 and hasn't fought for a YEAR and rockhold who JUST got knocked out. gastelum lost to weidman? yes, but he since then beat the former champ and jacaré. like ffs

I'm disappointed, I thought Whittaker was the type to take on anyone.

He probably doesn't want to mess with another guy with dynamites in his hands after having been beat the crap out of by Yoel.

yes, I also thought that. he got beat up and now is scared to fight dangerous guys, pathetic. how the mighty have fallen

 

[Njmma209]

Hahaha i can see the board right now, Sherdoggers will be pissed if he become champion again.

This is me comforting the triggered Weidman haters after he chokes out Whittaker.

 

[flowoftruth]

Love Whittaker but big sexy AKA Kelvin 'eating all the canolies' Gastelum is next . winner gets the strap put on them by the boss man

 

[KazDibiase]

holy shit that's really amazing. he wants weidman, who's 1-3 and hasn't fought for a YEAR and rockhold who JUST got knocked out. gastelum lost to weidman? yes, but he since then beat the former champ and jacaré. like ffs

yes, I also thought that. he got beat up and now is scared to fight dangerous guys, pathetic. how the mighty have fallen

Well in his defense, he also been getting injury after injury after the two fights with Yoel and know you got to be 100% facing someone like Gastelum. No offense to Weidman and Rockhold but both didn't really look good in their last fights and Kelvin been on fire.

 

[Race Freelie]

Bisping is a shell of his former self, so I give zero props to Gas for that win. Luke is the fight to make. And still

 

[Sansnom]

Almost knocked out? He got knocked down and subbed Gastelum. Not a compelling argument. Gastelum was given a dream fight with Bisping after he just got choked out. Still don't understand why the UFC allowed it.

He still got knocked down by a guy half his size.

Either way, it doesn't matter, Weidman got KO'D/TKO'd in 3 of his last 4 fights.

Gastelum just beat Jacare and has 5 wins in his last 6 fights.

He is the most deserving at the moment. Weidman is just delusional thinking he deserves a title shot.

 

[The Domin8or]

So gastelum who is coming of a KO over former champion and a decision win against Jacare isnt worthy enough but luke who got knocked out cold in a violent way in 2 of hist last 3 is worthy for a title shot ? I like robert but he seems like he doesnt want that gastelum smoke

 

[beephin]

Rockhold? Lol no.

Weidman? Feels dirty giving him that shot after dropping three in a row (being finished each time) and only winning one fight since he fought Vitor in 2015. He’s won ONE fight since May 2015. Think about that.

Gastelum is on a roll and just feels like he should get a shot. I understand Weidman beat him but Gas did well against Weidman and Weidman just never fights. He hasn’t fought in over a year. I’ll pass on Weidman. Gas vs. Whittaker would be amazing.

Weidman vs. Jacare is still the fight I wanna see.

 

[drbolony]

Wow. I didn't believe it, I'm a fan of Robs, but it seems like he really is avoiding Gastelum. Rockholds coming off a KO loss. Chris is 1-3, and as KG pointed out last week on the MMA Hour, he was ranked #9 when Chris beat him.

Gastelum is coming off of two top 5 wins (1being the former champ), and is the rightful number 1 contender. I understand the circumstances surrounding the Bisping fight, but at this point with the lack of title contenders, Bispings name and ranking count for quite a bit.

 

[Sansnom]

Whittaker doesn't want to deal with this

Little guy has a chin made out of iron. Not even fazed. I bet Jacare was like "WTF".