The UFC sets up shop in Long Island, New York for the first time in history this weekend for UFC on Fox 25.
The main event features an intriguing middleweight conflict with New York native Chris Weidman looking to finish an ugly series of fights against Kelvin Gastelum.
The rest of the card features some fun fights for some hard-core fans. Keep an eye on Jimmie Rivera vs Thomas Almeida, that has serious fight of the nighttime potential.
Weidman (+140), the former UFC middleweight champion, is in need of a triumph in this bout to prove he belongs among the division’s elite. ‘The All-American’ is a pressure-based fighter in the game who will push ahead behind a stable, if sometimes loose jab. Weidman likes to throw kicks and he will do so at all three levels with a taste toward the waist. The biggest issue is that his propensity to move in a straight line, both backward and forward.
This pressure helps Weidman push his competitor to the cage in which he could begin to perform his grappling game. He will throw varied strikes in the clinch and this will help open his wrestling. A former D1 wrestler, Weidman’s takedown technique is smooth and he uses it both defensively and offensively. When he is on the mat, then you can really see Weidman glow with his mix of wrestling ability along with his black belt in BJJ.
Gastelum (-170) has the speed and aggression in the striking section to assist conquer his size disadvantage . He overwhelms his competitor with volume and will constantly probe with his jab. He is primarily a boxer in the standup game but his toes are only as dangerous due to his pace and movement. Combining this strain with his ability to maintain his lead foot on the exterior leaves Gastelum lethal on the toes.
Gastelum’s athleticism assists greatly in his wrestling game, as his takedowns are largely based on an opportunistic explosion. That doesn’t help with his shield, as he’s far from the best defensively. Gastelum has had trouble against high-quality wrestlers and that may just grow given the leap up to middleweight.
This is an intriguing fight for the future of this 185-pound branch. The branch is deep with talent but only one of both of these fighters can be considered elite moving ahead. That having been said, Weidman and Gastelum are both likely two wins away from a title shot with the division being so congested.
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