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Draws Pyfer in Mexico
Gastelum will fight Joe Pyfer at UFC Mexico on March 29, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Gastelum won his only fight of 2024 against Daniel Rodriguez and is 2-1 in his last three, but the 33-year-old could have a tougher time taking down Pyfer, who has won four of his first five UFC bouts.
Gastelum won his only fight of 2024 against Daniel Rodriguez and is 2-1 in his last three, but the 33-year-old could have a tougher time taking down Pyfer, who has won four of his first five UFC bouts.
Leans on wrestling in victory
Gastelum defeated Daniel Rodriguez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
ANALYSIS
It should have been a quality win for Gastelum, but as has been the case far too often in his career, his performance was overshadowed by a poor weight cut. Kelvin's cut was such a disaster that this went from a welterweight fight to a middleweight bout in the span of a couple days. Rodriguez, wanting to fight, agreed to the change, and Kelvin went out and won, mostly on the strength of his grappling. Gastelum landed four takedowns, his first in a fight since 2021. He then made a passionate apology to UFC President Dana White and the brass in his post-fight interview. Even with the win, Gastelum is just 3-6 in his past nine fights, so there's zero guarantee the company will continue to put up with the weight cutting issues despite the victory here.
It should have been a quality win for Gastelum, but as has been the case far too often in his career, his performance was overshadowed by a poor weight cut. Kelvin's cut was such a disaster that this went from a welterweight fight to a middleweight bout in the span of a couple days. Rodriguez, wanting to fight, agreed to the change, and Kelvin went out and won, mostly on the strength of his grappling. Gastelum landed four takedowns, his first in a fight since 2021. He then made a passionate apology to UFC President Dana White and the brass in his post-fight interview. Even with the win, Gastelum is just 3-6 in his past nine fights, so there's zero guarantee the company will continue to put up with the weight cutting issues despite the victory here.
More weight cutting issues
Gastelum's scheduled matchup against Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Saudi Arabia on Saturday will now be contested at middleweight, Mike Heck of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Gastelum has a long history of issues making the 170-pound welterweight limit, which eventually forced him to move up to middleweight -- a division he is a bit undersized in. He did successfully make welterweight for his December 2 loss to Sean Brady, and while this bout was originally scheduled for welterweight, Gastelum's camp noted early that he would be unable to make that weight, or even make a catchweight limit of 180 pounds. Fortunately for Gastelum, Rodriguez agreed to allow the bout to be contested at middleweight. Even with the shake-up and weight-cutting concerns, Gastelum remains roughly a (-230) betting favorite for the matchup as of Thursday afternoon.
Gastelum has a long history of issues making the 170-pound welterweight limit, which eventually forced him to move up to middleweight -- a division he is a bit undersized in. He did successfully make welterweight for his December 2 loss to Sean Brady, and while this bout was originally scheduled for welterweight, Gastelum's camp noted early that he would be unable to make that weight, or even make a catchweight limit of 180 pounds. Fortunately for Gastelum, Rodriguez agreed to allow the bout to be contested at middleweight. Even with the shake-up and weight-cutting concerns, Gastelum remains roughly a (-230) betting favorite for the matchup as of Thursday afternoon.
Next matchup in Saudi Arabia
Gastelum will take on Daniel Rodriguez at the UFC event scheduled for June 22 in Saudi Arabia, UFC President Dana White announced Wednesday night.
ANALYSIS
Gastelum has been on a rough stretch, as he fell to 2-6 in his last eight fights after a submission loss to Sean Brady in his return to the welterweight division last December. His name recognition will still land him a fight on a high-profile card against an opponent in Rodriguez who is coming off a suspension and two-fight losing streak. In a fight that projects to be contested on the feet, Gastelum will concede height and reach advantages to Rodriguez, who also has the statistical edge in volume striking.
Gastelum has been on a rough stretch, as he fell to 2-6 in his last eight fights after a submission loss to Sean Brady in his return to the welterweight division last December. His name recognition will still land him a fight on a high-profile card against an opponent in Rodriguez who is coming off a suspension and two-fight losing streak. In a fight that projects to be contested on the feet, Gastelum will concede height and reach advantages to Rodriguez, who also has the statistical edge in volume striking.
Routed in welterweight return
Gastelum lost to Sean Brady via submission (kimura) at 1:43 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Austin, Texas.
ANALYSIS
Competing at welterweight for the first time since July 2016, Gastelum looked truly awful. He made weight with no issues Friday morning, but the good times ended there. Any theoretical advantage Kelvin may have had on the feet was completely negated by the fact he couldn't defend a takedown. Literally. Brady went 5-for-5, good for 9:06 worth of control time. Gastelum mercifully tapped out to a kimura in the early stages of Round 3. Kelvin turned just 32 years of age in late-October, but he's 2-6 in his past eight fights and at a career crossroads at the moment. There doesn't appear to be an easy answer here in regards to what is next.
Competing at welterweight for the first time since July 2016, Gastelum looked truly awful. He made weight with no issues Friday morning, but the good times ended there. Any theoretical advantage Kelvin may have had on the feet was completely negated by the fact he couldn't defend a takedown. Literally. Brady went 5-for-5, good for 9:06 worth of control time. Gastelum mercifully tapped out to a kimura in the early stages of Round 3. Kelvin turned just 32 years of age in late-October, but he's 2-6 in his past eight fights and at a career crossroads at the moment. There doesn't appear to be an easy answer here in regards to what is next.