Kelvin Gastelum is still on a mission for gold, but the division has changed.
The career trajectory of Kelvin Gastelum has been a very unusual one for a fighter of his stock.
After racking up a 5-0 professional record, defeating all of those opponents by submission or knockout, he was snapped up for season 17 of the Ultimate Fighter. He went on a tear in the reality show, beating all four fighters he was matched up against.
His sensational performances in the house earned him a spot in the finale against lethal striker Uriah Hall. Despite being a significant underdog for the fight. He pipped Hall to a closely-fought split decision to become the youngest ever Ultimate Fighter winner at just 21 years of age.
Immediately after getting his first victory on the biggest stage in the sport, Gastelum dropped down to welterweight.
After racking up four-straight wins, he suffered his first ever loss against future champion Tyron Woodley. On that occasion, it was Gastelum who was on the losing side of a split decision.
The bout against T-Wood was a catchweight contest set at 180lbs, because of Gastelum’s inability to make weight for the second time in his UFC career. The first time he tipped the scales over the limit came against Nico Musoke, when he weighed in at 172.75lbs.
Gastelum was forced to forfeit 30% of his purse to Woodley and ordered to move up to middleweight, but Woodley very kindly returned the money. He was given a tall task for his middleweight return – former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt.
Still billed as a welterweight, Gastelum starched Marquardt in the second round and was given the go-ahead to give 170lbs a second crack.
He lost a split decision to Neil Magny before scoring a dominant unanimous decision over former champion Johny Hendricks, but was forced back to 185lbs again when he failed to show up to the UFC 205 weigh-ins due to cutting issues. His scheduled main card bout against fan-favourite Donald Cerrone was scrapped entirely.
His next task – to welcome perpetual contender Tim Kennedy back to the UFC after a long lay-off at UFC 206.
Gastelum arguably never looked better than he did against the Green Beret who has current king Michael Bisping’s scalp on his record.
His cardio was excellent, his wrestling was incredible and on the feet, he looked like Anderson Silva in his prime. He overwhelmed Kennedy throughout the fight, finishing him via TKO in the third round in what would be Kennedy’s retirement fight. Suddenly, a man who everyone had been backing to be a future welterweight champion looked like a genuine middleweight contender.
He takes on former champion Vitor Belfort in his next trip to the Octagon and judging by a recent post on Twitter, he’s fully committed to his new weight class.
Watch this space.
Make it medium rare, we beefing up! 🐼 #BelfortvsGastelum #UFCFortaleza #OnAmission4Gold pic.twitter.com/jDimp1Yzl2
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) February 14, 2017
