Step on the Gas
5 TO FOLLOW
KELVIN GASTELUM aims to fast-track himself back to the top of the middleweight ranks when he faces Robert Whittaker at UFC Vegas 24 tomorrow.
The Californian, 29, was on the verge of breaking through into the big time in 2019, before his rise hit the buffers.
He was set to face then champion Whittaker two years ago but the Aussie pulled out after needing emergency hernia surgery.
Gastelum then lost an interim title fight to Israel Adesanya, who has gone on to dominate the division.
Having stepped in to replace Paulo Costa at late notice, Gastelum said: “This is a match-up I have wanted for a long time. I just feel all the stars are aligning for me right now.
“I want to show the rest of the world what I already know – that I am one of the best. I think the winner of this fight gets the Izzy rematch.”
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RONNIE O’SULLIVAN Defending and six-time champion, trying to equal Stephen Hendry’s record haul of seven Crucible crowns
NEIL ROBERTSON The Australian is better than his single world title suggests, a main contender for years in big events and in fine form
YAN BINGTAO Won the prestigious Masters in January, and at 21 could beat Hendry’s record as youngest world champion by a month
SAM CRAIGIE Debutant from Newcastle, fell off tour earlier in career and briefly quit the game but if he settles is a fine player. Drew Mark Williams.
JUDD TRUMP World No.1, can equal his own record set just last season of six ranking titles in a single campaign with a second Crucible win
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