MEXICO CITY – Kelvin Gastelum has firmly declared that he will exclusively compete in the middleweight division for the remainder of his UFC fighting career. He stated he is “100 percent sure” about this decision.
Gastelum`s journey in the UFC began at middleweight when he won Season 17 of “The Ultimate Fighter” at 185 pounds. Subsequently, he moved down to the welterweight division. However, difficulties with weight cutting forced him to return to middleweight, where he achieved some of his most significant successes.
Despite initial success at middleweight, a downturn in results prompted Gastelum to attempt welterweight again. This second venture into the 170-pound division proved unsuccessful and was once again plagued by weight-cutting issues. Now, Gastelum is back in the middleweight division, preparing for his Saturday fight at UFC on ESPN 64 against Joe Pyfer at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. For Gastelum, this return to middleweight is definitive.
“Middleweight is my true weight class, and I feel really good here,” Gastelum told MMA Junkie during the UFC on ESPN 64 media day. “My best career moments have been in this division, and I`m committed to staying. I feel comfortable, happy, and strong. I`ve built up muscle to compete effectively with the larger fighters in this division.”
He added, “In my previous middleweight run, I was still uncertain about my long-term division. That`s why I even went back down to welterweight. But now, I have no doubts. I am 100 percent certain that middleweight is where I will stay.”
Gastelum is aiming for a fresh start with a victory over Pyfer. He admitted that Pyfer wasn`t his initially desired opponent for his next fight but is now embracing the challenge.
“Initially, I was a bit surprised by this matchup because Joe wasn`t the type of opponent I was expecting,” Gastelum explained. “He wasn`t on my radar. I was hoping to fight someone ranked higher, someone with a more recognized name. However, I also see this as a significant test for myself. I need to rebuild from the ground up and face these up-and-coming, tough fighters, and that`s exactly what I`m here to do. This fight marks a new chapter in my life and career, and my path back up the rankings starts with Joe Pyfer.”
