Daniel Rodriguez and Kelvin Gastelum had been initially slated to battle on the UFC Saudi Arabia predominant card in a welterweight contest. The match will now happen within the middleweight division after Gastelum had issued slicing weight.
Gastelulm has missed weight a number of occasions up to now and had returned to the welterweight division in his final battle in December. Through the UFC Saudi Arabia Media Day, Rodriguez defined the state of affairs and mentioned that he ‘misplaced a bit respect’ for Gastelum due to it.
“Matchmakers reached out and I attempted to get it to a catchweight, however he have to be having such a foul battle camp that he can’t even make 180. It’s been 13 weeks since I came upon about this battle. I’m positive he has, too. So the truth that he’s saying that he’s having a foul battle camp is senseless. I really feel prefer it’s lack of self-discipline. I don’t know if Kelvin Gastelum is having a foul battle camp or he’s simply being lazy and doesn’t wish to make the load,” Rodriguez mentioned.
“I already agreed to 185. I’m so invested on this battle. It put me in a extremely powerful spot. I would like this battle to occur. It’s been such a protracted battle camp and I did comply with take a proportion of his purse, which is simply truthful. I simply felt like 180 would have been an excellent weight, however it’s not my first time coming by for the corporate, and I would like the UFC to know that I’m that man that’s going to make the sacrifices even when it’s not in my favor,” Rodriguez continued. “Within the sense of being knowledgeable, I really feel like I misplaced a bit respect for the man.”
Saturday marks the battle promotion’s first journey to Saudi Arabia. The occasion is headlined by a middleweight bout between former champion Robert Whittaker and rising star Ikram Aliskerov.