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 a fascinating middleweight battle with New York native Chris Weidman trying to finish an ugly series of conflicts against Kelvin Gastelum.
The rest of the card includes several interesting fights for some hardcore fans. Keep an eye on Jimmie Rivera vs Thomas Almeida, which has serious fight of the night possible.
Weidman (+140), the former UFC middleweight champion, is in need of a triumph in this bout to prove that he belongs among the division’s elite. ‘The All-American’ is a pressure-based fighter in the striking game who’ll push forward behind a steady, if occasionally loose jab. Weidman likes to throw kicks and he can do so at all 3 levels with a preference toward the waist. The largest issue is his tendency to move in a straight line, both forward and backward.
This stress helps Weidman push his competitor to the cage where he could start to work his fighting match. He’ll throw varied attacks in the clinch and this helps open up his wrestling. A former D1 wrestler, Weidman’s takedown technique is eloquent and he also uses it both defensively and offensively. When he is on the mat, then you can really see Weidman shine with his mix of wrestling ability and his black belt in BJJ.
Gastelum (-170) gets the speed and aggression in the striking department to help overcome his size disadvantage . He overwhelms his competitor with volume and will always probe with his jab. He’s primarily a boxer in the standup game but his feet are only as dangerous due to his speed and movement. Combining this pressure together with his ability to maintain his lead foot on the outside makes Gastelum deadly on the feet.
Gastelum’s athleticism helps greatly in his wrestling game, as his takedowns are largely based on an opportunistic explosion. That will not assist with his defense, as he is far from the top defensively. Gastelum has always had difficulty against high-quality wrestlers which could only grow given the leap up to middleweight.
This is an intriguing fight for the future of the 185-pound division. The division is deep with talent but only one of these two fighters can be considered elite moving forward. That being said, Weidman and Gastelum are likely two wins away from a title shot with the branch being congested.

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