UFC 234 had all kinds of drama as Robert Whittaker, who was set to defend his middleweight title against Kelvin Gastelum, had to pull out due to a hernia that needed emergency surgery. This fight was meant to be the main event, but because it couldn't take place, Israel Adesanya and Anderson Silva's fight became the main attraction for the evening. In the end, Adesanya defeated the MMA legend which according to UFC President Dana White, was a win that was supposed to give Adesanya a shot at the middleweight title. Now, Adesanya is calling out Whittaker for dropping out of his fight, saying he should relinquish his title and have himself and Gastelum battle it out for an interim belt.
"This is not the first time that Robert has had to pull out or been on the sideline due to injury," Adesanya said according to ESPN. "They won't do it, I don't think so, but legitimately, just take the title off him, and me and Kelvin fight for the belt."
Gastelum feels the same way about Whittaker's absence as he's already declaring himself the champion.
"In my world, in the wrestling world, what I grew up in, if a guy shows up, makes the weight and for whatever reason can't continue on in the competition, that's a forfeit," Gastelum explained. "Automatically, that makes me the champion."
Regardless, Adesanya has made it clear that he wants his next fight to be for a title since he's proved himself in the octagon.