Conor McGregor questions why ‘worm’ Kelvin Gastelum is holding UFC belt

MMAfighting.com

Conor McGregor knows a thing or two about UFC titles and he wasn’t pleased to see Kelvin Gastelum flaunting one this weekend.

Gastelum was booked to challenge middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC 234 on Saturday in Melbourne, Australia, but the bout was canceled and Gastelum removed from the card entirely after Whittaker was forced to withdraw hours before the show started due to a hernia that required immediate surgery.

While Gastelum had nothing but words of support for his ailing adversary at first, later in the evening he conducted an interview in which he declared himself to be the new UFC middleweight champion by forfeit. He carried with him one of the UFC’s newly designed title belts, which rubbed “The Notorious” the wrong way.

Shortly after the conclusion of UFC 234, McGregor wrote on Twitter, “Why is that worm holding the 185 lb. belt? There are worms crawling on his skin!”

Why is that worm holding the 185lb belt? There are worms crawling on his skin! It was absolutely ludicrous to even consider allowing him to compete. Let alone now walk around the arena shaking our fans hands.
Someone sort this, this instant. And sterilize that belt.
Immediately.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 10, 2019

McGregor comments are in reference to rumors that Gastelum appeared to have some sort of infection based on marks on and around his face.

“It was absolutely ludicrous to even consider allowing him to compete. Let alone now walk around the arena shaking our fans hands.” McGregor continued. “Someone sort this, this instant.

“And sterilize that belt. Immediately.”

In response, Gastelum challenged McGregor to take the belt from him:

Come take it off….
Little prick! https://t.co/823ptmymr8— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) February 10, 2019

Though he is no longer a titleholder, McGregor has worn UFC gold twice before. He defeated Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 to claim the lightweight strap and became the undisputed featherweight champion at UFC 194 with a win over Jose Aldo.

In regards to the replacement main event between Israel Adesanya and Anderson Silva, McGregor praised Silva in his losing effort and went as far as to suggest he’d be willing to fight “The Spider” in the future, an idea that both Silva and McGregor have previously floated out there.

Anderson is one crafty, crafty Martial Artist.
You only develop these methods through years of hard fought experience.
Phenomenal performance.
The crafty veteran. Big respect always.
It would be an honor!— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 10, 2019

“Anderson is one crafty, crafty Martial Artist,” McGregor wrote. “You only develop these methods through years of hard fought experience. Phenomenal performance.

“The crafty veteran. Big respect always. It would be an honor!”