Opening odds: Ex-champ Chris Weidman the favourite going into UFC on FOX 25 vs Gastelum
Former middleweight champion Chris Weidman is coming off his third straight loss in a row, with two of them having come in his own backyard.
It's pretty certain he’ll be looking to bounce back strong in July when he enters the octagon at UFC on FOX 25, a stone's throw away from his home on Long Island. Weidman is set to meet rising middleweight Kelvin Gastelum in the main event.
UFC on FOX 25 is set to take place July 22. The main card airs on FOX following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass, though the exact fight schedule has yet to be confirmed.
According to expert MMA oddsmaker Joey Oddessa, Weidman opened as a -150 favorite over Gastelum, who is +120.
After being dethroned of the 185 pound strap by Luke Rockhold at UFC 194 in December 2015, Weidman took on Yoel Romero at UFC 205, which featured the UFC’s first time hosting an event at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The “All-American” started off the fight strong, even slightly edging the contest, until Romero leaped into the air and landed a devastating flying knee to the side of Weidman's head, which put him out cold.
With ambitions of returning to his winning ways, Weidman faced top title contender Gegard Mousasi at UFC 210 in April. Once again he started the fight ahead, but Mousasi soon had an answer, and in the second round landed a pair of vicious knees, which seemed controversial at first, but later deemed to be completely legal. The fight ended after it was initially stopped by referee Dan Miragliotta, who was mainly influenced by Weidman's appeal that he had his hands down. Weidman was devastated by the defeat, but promised to come back stronger.
Surprisingly, he will get another opportunity to finally get a much needed win with the matchup against a 13th-ranked Gastelum. “The Ultimate Fighter 17” winner was slated to headline UFC 212 next month against Anderson Silva, but was pulled from the fight a few weeks out due to a U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) violation for marijuana use during his March win over Vitor Belfort at UFC Fight Night 106.
Gastelum slept Belfort in the first round of that fight, but due to the doping violation, had his win overturned to a no-contest. Regardless, Gastelum is on a hot streak as of late, boasting a three-fight unbeaten run, which includes wins over Belfort, Tim Kennedy and Johny Hendricks.