Former middleweight champion Chris Weidman (13-3, 6 KOs, 3 SUBs) will meet rising contender Kelvin Gastelum (13-2, 5 KOs, 4 SUBs) at UFC on FOX 25 on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York. The card airs live on FOX starting 9 p.m. ET. Bet on the latest UFC odds at BookMaker.eu now.
Chris Weidman will be fighting in his backyard of Long Island, and he desperately needs a win for a variety of reasons. For starters, he was humiliated the last time he fought in his home state, getting wrecked by Yoel Romero. But more importantly, Weidman has to avoid a fourth straight loss if he wants to stay relevant at 185 pounds.
His task won’t be easy, as he meets a red hot Kelvin Gastelum, who has looked spectacular in recent fights. Let’s take a look at the UFC odds at BookMaker.eu and break down your betting options.
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Chris Weidman +158
Kelvin Gastelum -200
Over/under 2.5 rounds, over -160, under +130
Matchup Preview
Though Weidman is just 33, his apparent physical decline has been shockingly steep. Just two years ago, he was 13-0 and the middleweight champ. Going into this Saturday, he’s been knocked out in three straight fights - and each of those KO/TKOs were brutal.
It’s not that he’s looked bad - Weidman was competitive against Rockhold, Romero and Mousasi before caught with strikes. But “The All-American” seems to have reached his fighting peak - and it falls just under the elite level.
Weidman can get takedowns, but he can’t do much damage from the top. He can strike, but he’s not good enough to stand for five rounds against guys the best standup fighters. And we now have to question his chin, as he’s been rocked in three straight fights.
Gastelum is not a good matchup at all for Weidman. The former welterweight is an excellent wrestle-boxer with excellent takedown defense. Quick and spry, Gastelum’s speed advantage in this matchup will likely be the biggest difference maker.
Against the bigger, slower Tim Kennedy, Gastelum danced in and lit up the Army Ranger with his lightning quick hands and precision accuracy. Kennedy, a top-12 middleweight at the time, was so overmatched he retired afterward. Vitor Belfort, a man renowned for his fast hands, looked stuck in molasses against Gastelum.
Weidman has two paths to victory here. On the feet, he must time his heavy fists and hope to land a counter killshot. Or he can try to impose his wrestling from the get-go and hope that his grinding top game will wear out the 25-year old Gastelum.
UFC Odds Betting Analysis
Your chance of getting an affordable money line on Gastelum has passed. In just the last few weeks, the youngster has gone from -145 to around -200. Bettors are realizing the truth that this is a nightmare matchup for a quickly aging former champ. At middleweight, Gastelum’s cardio is no longer a weakness, and his jitterbug quicks could easily make this a lopsided fight.
UFC odds pick: Gastelum to win at -200
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UFC on FOX 25 takes place on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York. The card airs live on FOX starting 9 p.m. ET.
