Blessed with thunderous power and a formidable chin, Kelvin Gastelum could’ve had it all, but with a frustrating lack of discipline, his hopes of scaling the UFC mountain look bleak.
In a rollercoaster UFC Saudi Arabia fight week, the American, whom many thought had turned over a new leaf, confessed that he was struggling to make weight, prompting the promotion to move his fight up an entire division from welterweight to middleweight.
Kelvin Gastelum has always struggled in the discipline department
While fans around the globe were positively salivating for Kelvin Gastelum to compete at 170 pounds this weekend, the Californian has swept the rug from beneath their feet.
Rendering the MMA community and indeed his opponent exasperated, the 32-year-old, has once again failed to make weight, with the fans pointing to a new video series on his YouTube channel ‘Missing Weight’ with Kelvin Gastelum‘ – now akin to a mockery of Daniel Rodriguez and the promotion as a whole. That bout is now having to be contended a weight class higher than originally anticipated.
However, while disappointing, it certainly isn’t a shock. His entire career has been a mix of dynamic performances overshadowed by ill-discipline and a lack of learning from his mistakes.
When a bushy-tailed and wide-eyed Gastelum first arrived on the scene, at the age of just 21, the world truly looked like his oyster. With solid striking skills and an innate understanding of the sport, the youngster defeated an intimidating Uriah Hall to become the youngest Ultimate Fighter winner of all time.
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A sparkling finish in his debut lit a fire with MMA enthusiasts, with many jumping on the train, expecting to ride it all the way to championship gold. Alas, the athlete has fallen significantly short of all expectations. And it’s not for a lack of ability.
After winning the reality show, Gastelum moved down to welterweight, a division that suited his build to a tee. However, his lack of dedication to the weight cut reared its ugly head with the San Jose fighter failing to hit his target on several occasions, including a woeful ten-pound miss against Tyron Woodley, which prompted Dana White to exile him to middleweight.
Luckily, the punishment seemed to ignite a spark in his belly, with the southpaw producing a series of tremendous showings, featuring wins over Michael Bisping and Jacare Souza and a razor-tight battle with Israel Adesanya in which both men exhibited fighting spirit in abundance.
Alas, while ‘Stylebender’ went on to become champion, Gastelum stalled. While once expected to achieve big things, the athlete’s career took a nose dive, with the ferocious brawler winning just two of his next seven outings.
Realizing something needed to change, he made the decision to move back down to welterweight, convincing the world that at this stage of his career, he wouldn’t make the same mistakes he did in his early twenties.
Kelvin Gastelum fails to make welterweight for UFC Saudi Arabia
Showing that 170 pounds is very much still in reach, the jiu-jitsu black belt, proved the doubters wrong, successfully making the weight for his bout with Sean Brady. And while he didn’t emerge victorious that day, the fact that he was back competing against people his own size, gave his supporters an element of hope, which they held close going into UFC Saudi Arabia fight week.
With Gastelum telling MMA Junkie that a loss could spell the end of his time in the world’s premier MMA organization, the fans were optimistically hoping to witness something special in the cage, in which the spartan would remind them of his relentless will-to-win that proved so entertaining to watch in his glory days. But sadly, their bubble has been burst.
At the press conference, the sportsman revealed he’d been struggling with the weight, leaving Rodriguez, who’d already gotten down to 179, in a difficult position. Ultimately, the pair have resolved the issue, with the fight now taking place at middleweight.
However, while taped over, the bigger issue still lies prominently beneath. How many chances will Gastelum get?
In a sport like mixed martial arts, where hard work and dedication are of optimum importance, thousands of competitors around the world are dedicating blood, sweat, and tears in pursuit of one day reaching their goal of just getting to the UFC, let alone accumulating the level of superstardom Gastelum has in his career.
Thus, he’s not only let himself down, but all those who’d give anything to be in his place. While it’s entirely possible that something has happened outside of fight camp, his nonchalant attitude is the very reason he’s not excelled to the level his skills deserve, and even fellow UFC stars are infuriated.
Chris Curtis is furious that Kelvin Gastelum has failed to make 170 pounds
With a passion for the sport racing through his veins, Curtis has given every fiber of his being to becoming the best fighter he possibly can. Therefore, the view that someone like Gastelum can get to a similar level, without putting in the same work, is nothing short of infuriating for ‘The Action Man’.
He raged: “Lazy, undisciplined, and lucky as hell. The Kelvin Gastelum Story.
“Motivation is a crutch, and a lack of motivation is an excuse. In all athletic pursuits, amateurs seek motivation, professionals master discipline. Discipline wakes you before your alarm. Discipline pushes you out the door towards roadwork and back that last mile home.”
“On a mission for Gold-en Corral”
#DISCIPLINE”
While Gastelum could get the win this weekend, his reputation has undeniably taken a hit.
However, while the world has almost given up on the fighter, at the age of 32, it’s not over yet. He could jump back on the horse, finally give the sport the respect it deserves, and reach his optimum potential. But if he continues along the path he’s on now, in the blink of an eye, he’ll be out of the game, looking back on his mixed martial arts story, wondering what might have been.
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