Chris Weidman Claims He Will Receive Title Shot with Win Over ‘Jacare’ at UFC 230

Chris Weidman could be one step away from a UFC middleweight title shot.

During an appearance on "Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show” on Monday, Weidman claimed that he was told by the promotion that he will get a chance to challenge for 185-pound gold if he defeats Ronaldo Souza in UFC 230 co-main event on Nov. 3.

“Jacare” was a replacement for Luke Rockhold, who withdrew from the proposed rematch with Weidman due to injury.

"I win this fight, I'm fighting for the title," Weidman said. "I was obviously close to fighting for the title before this fight, beating [Kelvin] Gastelum and finishing him. It was between me and him, who was going to be fighting [champion Robert] Whittaker. They decided to go with Gastelum.”

Weidman snapped a three-bout skid with a third-round submission of Gastelum at UFC on Fox 25 in July 2017. He has been sidelined since then after twice undergoing surgery for a torn ligament in his thumb.

"I really wanted to make sure my thumb was good -- get the sparring in, and grapple and punch with it, and be OK, feel confident with it," Weidman said. "And I did that. It ended up healing perfect.”

Gastelum coached opposite Robert Whittaker on Season 28 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” and the two are expected to fight for Whittaker’s belt, though a date for that bout has not yet been announced. If he wins at UFC 230, Weidman said he was also told through his manager he should be prepared to be an injury replacement for the Whittaker-Gastelum fight, which could take place in Australia.