Robert Whittaker vs. Kelvin Gastelum Targeted for UFC 234 in Australia
The middleweight title will reportedly go up for grabs at UFC 234 in Australia as champion Robert Whittaker will fight close to home against Kelvin Gastelum on Feb. 9.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the news to ESPN on Friday, although the exact date and location have not been announced yet by the promotion.
Assuming everything moves ahead as scheduled, Whittaker will get a second opportunity to defend his title at home after he was originally expected to fight there last year before an illness knocked him out of his fight against Luke Rockhold.
Whittaker last fought in June where he defeated his title against Yoel Romero and then injuries kept him sidelined for the remainder of 2018 while he was also coaching on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ season 28.
As for Gastelum, the former ‘Ultimate Fighter’ winner has earned two wins in a row to get the shot at gold including victories over former champion Michael Bisping and Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza.
Gastelum coached opposite Whittaker on the reality show and now they are expected to headline the UFC’s return to Australia in February.
As of now, Whittaker has opened as a solid favorite according to the odds makers at Ohmbet with 1.45/ -222 in his favor with the comeback on Gastelum at +190/2.90.
