Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed below are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sherdog.com, its affiliates and sponsors or its parent company, Evolve Media.
* * *
When Robert Whittaker was forced to withdraw from his middleweight title defense against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 234 on Saturday in Melbourne, Australia, Gastelum was put in a tough position. He wasn’t going to receive the title shot for which he had trained, and his status was broadly uncertain in an increasingly crowded middleweight division.