Tag: Kelvin Gastelum

Kelvin Gastelum confident he’s ‘superior’ to Daniel Rodriguez ahead of UFC on ABC 6

Kelvin Gastelum is confident he can get back to his winning ways starting this Saturday at UFC on ABC 6.

[autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag]’s career could use a win this Saturday. After struggling to maintain a winning streak in recent years, the UFC veteran firmly believes his best career days are around the corner.

Gastelum returns on the main card of UFC on ABC 6, which takes place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Gastelum (18-9 MMA, 12-9 UFC) takes on fellow veteran [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag].

Gastelum is confident he’ll be able to return to the win column, as he sees himself better than Rodriguez (17-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in all areas of the fight game.

But in a late twist, the fight will take place at middleweight after Gastelum revealed a struggle with the weight cut to 170 pounds, at which the bout was contracted.

“I’ve obviously fought against many former champions and elite level fighters, right, so I think I just need to go in there and stay focused on the strategy I’ve established with my team,” Gastelum told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “D-Rod does many things well. He’s a good boxer and we need to be careful with certain things. Overall, I truly feel superior to him in every aspect – the standup and the ground game.

“I feel very confident in my abilities and that I’m the better fighter. I’m ready to fight wherever the fight goes.”

Gastelum moved back down to welterweight and changed his team from Kings MMA in California to Fight Ready in Arizona. He made big career changes in preparation for his last outing, which unfortunately didn’t pan out for him.

“It’s very tough to get up again and again and again, but that’s what a fighter does,” Gastelum said when asked bout his loss to Sean Brady last December. “We fight every day. It’s unfortunate I wasn’t able to show how much I’ve evolved and improved because the fight didn’t go as I thought it would. However, this time around, I feel very good and very confident in my preparation. I feel good.”

Gastelum is 2-6 in his past eight bouts, where he competed against some of the best in the world at 185 and 170 pounds. Although he’s been in the UFC for over a decade, at just 32, Gastelum said he thinks there’s plenty left in his career.

“I still think I can do this, and I think my better days are ahead of me,” Gastelum said. “That’s how I truly feel.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

Daniel Rodriguez agrees to 185 pounds after Kelvin Gastelum admits struggle to make 170 for UFC Saudi Arabia

Kelvin Gastelum continues to have issues on the scale.

[autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] continues to have issues on the scale.

Gastelum (18-9 MMA, 12-9 UFC) is scheduled to face [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag] (17-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in a welterweight bout on Saturday’s UFC on ABC 6 (ABC/ESPN/ESPN+) main card at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Gastelum, who moved up to middleweight after missing weight twice at 170 pounds, opted to move back down to welterweight in his most recent fight. He successfully made weight, but was submitted by Sean Brady in December.

However, Gastelum admitted he’s having difficulties cutting down to welterweight for his fight against Rodriguez, in what he described as a rough training camp.

“To be honest, this has been a pretty hard training camp,” Gastelum said during Thursday’s UFC on ABC 6 media day (h/t MMA Crazy). “There’s a lot of things that went on behind the scenes that a lot of people don’t know, don’t get to see, but it’s been pretty hard to get my weight down and get down to weight this time around – harder than last time.

“… I am pretty worried this week, but we’re going to talk with the manager and come up with the best game plan. But, I think we’re in for a rough weight cut.”

Rodriguez said he was contacted by the UFC about Gastelum’s weight struggles and he wasn’t pleased about it.

“Actually, the matchmakers reached out and I tried to get it to a catchweight, but he must be having such a bad fight camp that he can’t even make 180,” Rodriguez said. “I’m currently 179 pounds, so I have to put weight back on.

“It’s been 13 weeks since I found out about this fight. I’m sure he has, too. So the fact that he’s saying that he’s having a bad fight camp (for the weight cut) makes no sense. I feel like it’s lack of discipline. I don’t know if he’s having a bad fight camp or he’s just being lazy and doesn’t want to make the weight.”

Rodriguez said he accepted to now have his fight against Gastelum take place at middleweight. Having lost two straight, Rodriguez thinks he was in no position to decline the weight change.

“I already agreed to 185,” Rodriguez said. “I’m so invested in this fight. It put me in a really tough spot. I need this fight to happen. It’s been such a long fight camp and I did agree to take a percentage of his purse, which is only fair.

“I just felt like 180 would have been a good weight, but it’s not my first time coming through for the company, and I want the UFC to know that I’m that guy that’s going to make the sacrifices even if it’s not in my favor. … In the sense of being a professional, I feel like I lost a little respect for the guy.”

Late afternoon Thursday in Saudi Arabia, Gastelum posted on social media that he wanted the fight at 175 pounds, but Rodriguez countered with middleweight.

Regardless of how it transpired down the stretch, they signed for 170 pounds, and though the UFC hasn’t made a formal announcement – the bout is listed as welterweight at UFC.com – it appears middleweight indeed is the division in which the fight will take place.

[lawrence-related id=2749150,2702981]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

Kelvin Gastelum thinks UFC career on the line vs. Daniel Rodriguez: ‘Loser goes home’

Kelvin Gastelum knows his reality at UFC on ABC 6: If he doesn’t win, his more than 11-year run with the organization is likely over.

[autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] isn’t mincing words when it comes to his reality at UFC on ABC 6: If he doesn’t win, his more than 11-year run with the organization is likely over.

“The Ultimate Fighter 18” winner Gastelum (17-9 MMA, 12-9 UFC) has had a number of memorable moments inside the octagon. He’s lost six of his past eight fights, however, and is in a desperate situation entering Saturday’s welterweight matchup with Daniel Rodriguez (17-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+).

“I feel like my back’s up against the wall a little bit – things have wanted the way I’ve wanted them to in my career lately,” Gastelum told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “This one does feel a little different. I need a win. I’m in a must-win situation. I think both of us. I think loser goes home. Loser packs, and goes home and doesn’t sign with the UFC.”

Gastelum is doing everything in his power to right the ship. After nine years at middleweight, he returned to the welterweight division in December and suffered a third-round submission defeat. It wasn’t the result Gastelum wanted, but it served as a building block for this weight class.

The 32-year-old said the process of shedding pounds for weigh-in day has been easier so far than prior to the fight with Brady, so there’s a lot of variables Gastelum thinks are swinging in his favor.

“As always I’m coming into this confident, confident in my abilities and confident I put in the right amount of work,” Gastelum said. “Just confident overall. I think I’m the better fighter overall. This guy’s a tough guy, but I think I’m better, I’m tougher and I’m going to come out with the win.”

Gastelum has no choice at this point other than to truly believe he will get his hand raised at UFC on ABC 6. Because he admits thoughts of the future where that doesn’t happen are somewhat frightening.

“It does (scare me) – it does,” Gastelum said. “But at the same time, I’m a man who always thinks positive, so we’re going to stay positive.”

[lawrence-related id=2748901,2748953,2748415]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 6.

UFC Saudia Arabia fight card announced with Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev headliner

The UFC is headed to Saudi Arabia and the lineup (which will air on ABC) is stacked thus far.

The UFC will debut in Saudi Arabia this summer, and it’s bringing a major middleweight headliner with it.

Former champion [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] will take on [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] in a five-round main event on June 22, UFC CEO Dana White announced Thursday.

White added the bout’s winner will earn a crack at title gold and announced the main card will air on ABC.

Other fights on the card include [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag], [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Daniel Rodriguez[/autotag], [autotag]Volkan Oezdemir[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag], [autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag].

Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC), No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings, looks to continue the momentum from a unanimous decision victory over Paulo Costa in February. The win was his second in three fights and bounced him back into the win column after a loss to Dricus Du Plessis.

Chimaev (13-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) returns for the first time since September 2022, when he defeated former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman by majority decision. The No. 8 middleweight’s other UFC victories include Gilbert Burns and Kevin Holland among others.

The current UFC Saudi Arabia lineup includes:

  • Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
  • Sergei Pavlovich vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Daniel Rodriguez
  • Volkan Oezdemir vs. Johnny Walker
  • Shara Magomedov vs. Ihor Potieria

Kelvin Gastelum reflects on loss to Sean Brady in welterweight return: ‘Such is life’

Don’t count Kelvin Gastelum out yet, because the former UFC title challenger believes his story in MMA is far from over.

[autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] says he is far from done in MMA.

At UFC on ESPN 52, Gastelum (18-9 MMA, 12-9 UFC) competed in the middleweight division for the first time since 2016. It was his second appearance of 2023 following a unanimous decision win against Chris Curtis, but his return to 170 pounds was met with heavy resistance from Sean Brady, who won by third-round submission.

Immediately after the loss, Gastelum congratulated Brady, while also promising to return in better form soon. Gastelum believes he is “100X better” than his performance showed.

Over a week later, Gastelum addressed his disappointing outing again on the X, with a fuller outlook on his career journey.

Such is life.
It is constant learning.
I know what I need 2do and I’ll be back better than before like I always have.
My friend Triple C says.
Redemption is beautiful.
My story in MMA is far from OVER.
Thank you all that continue to support.
Love U all. #OnAmission4Gold

After a few struggles on the scale in his first welterweight stint, Gastelum moved up to middleweight for 12 appearances, including a shot at the vacant interim title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 236.

Overall, his middleweight run led to a 5-6 record including wins over Ronaldo Souza, Tim Kennedy, and former champion Michael Bisping.

Gastelum, 32, has consistently competed against the top names of the welterweight and middleweight divisions throughout his career. He now appears poised to get back on track at 170 pounds after silencing doubters about his ability to make weight.

[lawrence-related id=2701481,2700333,2699870]

UFC on ESPN 52 medical suspensions: Headliners, Bobby Green among 12 fighters facing 180 days off

A dozen UFC Austin competitors including Arman Tsarukyan, Beneil Dariush, and Bobby Green have been given lengthy suspensions by Texas.

UFC on ESPN 52 took place Saturday at Moody Center in Austin, Texas and featured a dozen fights.

Of the 24 competitors on the card, 12 fighters were suspended 180 days due to injuries sustained in their bouts, according to documentation from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), the commissioning body that oversaw the event.

Among those who received the lengthiest suspensions are both sides of the main event, Arman Tsarukyan and Beneil Dariush, as well as co-main eventer Bobby Green.

The TDLR does not reveal injury specifics, just the duration of the suspensions. Fighters are permitted to return to competition prior to the conclusion of their suspension durations should they be cleared by a doctor beforehand.

Check out the 24 medical suspension durations below:

Daniel Cormier couldn’t have imagined Sean Brady’s ‘absolute shutout’ of Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Austin

Daniel Cormier was pleasantly surprised and “so impressed” with how dominant Sean Brady looked against Kelvin Gastelum.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] was surprised with how dominant [autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag] looked vs. [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag].

Brady (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) submitted Gastelum (18-9 MMA, 12-9 UFC) this past Saturday at UFC on ESPN 52. After two rounds of complete control on the ground, Brady cinched in the Kimura submission in Round 3.

Cormier compared Brady’s performance to his lopsided win over Dan Henderson in 2014, when Cormier also rag-dolled his opponent then submitted him late.

“Sean Brady pitched an absolute shutout,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “I couldn’t have imagined that he would fight that good. I’m telling you guys, the last time I saw a dominant performance like that with the grappling, it was mine. It was when I fought Dan Henderson.

“Everything that Kelvin Gastelum was gonna do, it’s like Sean Brady knew and was a step ahead of him – everything. Everything he did, he was a step ahead of him. It was an amazing performance for a kid that people were starting to question because of the way he lost to Belal Muhammad.”

Prior to beating Gastelum, Brady suffered his first-career loss to Belal Muhammad by TKO at UFC 280. He was able to rebound in emphatic fashion.

“For a kid that people were starting to question for the way he lost to Belal Muhammad, they said he wasn’t very good, but this guy is (16-1) now,” Cormier continued. “He was 15-0, and people were saying, ‘Well, this guy is not that good.’

“I don’t know if that was to knock Belal or if they really believed that this kid wasn’t that good. I was so impressed. I was sitting talking to Bisping, and I’m like, ‘Dude, I don’t think people recognize what they are witnessing in this performance by Sean Brady.'”

[lawrence-related id=2701375,2701297,2701217,2700333]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.

Kelvin Gastelum opens up on UFC on ESPN 52 loss to Sean Brady: ‘I’m 100X better than what I showed tonight’

Kelvin Gastelum’s return to welterweight didn’t go as planned.

[autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag]’s return to welterweight didn’t go as planned.

Gastelum (18-9 MMA, 12-9 UFC) was suffocated and submitted by Sean Brady (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) on this past Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 52 main card at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Brady tapped out Gastelum with a kimura in Round 3.

An undeterred Gastelum released a statement to reflect on the loss, vowing to come back stronger.

“I’m 100X better than what I showed tonight. I’ll fix it and get back asap! Much love to everyone that supports the mission. Stay blessed everyone. 🙏❤️👊.”

Brady rebounded from his TKO loss to Belal Muhammad in October 2022. A humble Gastelum also congratulated Brady for his performance.

“You did your thing well tonight Sean Brady! My Congratulations! Well deserved big dawg! All the best to you in the future!”

Former interim middleweight title challenger Gastelum has now lost three of his past four. Prior to the Brady loss, Gastelum defeated Chris Curtis in a Fight of the Night effort at UFC 287.

[lawrence-related id=2700333,2699945,2699943,2701151]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.

UFC on ESPN 52 post-event facts: Clay Guida sets dubious record with 18th octagon loss

Check out all the facts from UFC on ESPN 52, which saw a record two slam KOs and Clay Guida tying the UFC record for most losses.

The UFC’s third-to-last event of 2023 went down as one of the best of the year. UFC on ESPN 52 delivered with nine stoppages in 12 fights.

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] (21-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) capped off the night with the quickest finish of the bunch. He dropped and stopped [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag] (22-6-1 MMA, 16-6-1 UFC) just 64 seconds into their high-stakes lightweight headliner, solidifying himself as a top contender.

For more on the numbers behind the card, which featured a number of historic feats, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 52.

UFC on ESPN 52 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Four fighters get max non-title money

UFC on ESPN 52 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

AUSTIN, Texas – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 52 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $225,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 52 took place at Moody Center. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 52 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Beneil Dariush[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Rob Font[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Sean Brady[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Joaquim Silva[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Clay Guida[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Dustin Stoltzfus[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Punahele Soriano[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Miesha Tate[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Julia Avila[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Cody Brundage[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Zach Reese[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Drakkar Klose[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Joe Solecki[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Rodolfo Bellato[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ihor Potieria[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Jared Gooden[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Wellington Turman[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Veronica Hardy[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Jamey-Lyn Horth[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,520; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $52,000 while title challengers get $52,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-52 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $7,689,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $22,208,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.