There was little phrase mincing from a UFC Corridor of Famer and perennial welterweight contender Saturday after UFC on ABC 6.
Kelvin Gastelum (19-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC) outworked Daniel Rodriguez (17-5 MMA, 7-4 UFC) for a unanimous determination on the principle card in Saudi Arabia. Gastelum was the betting favourite within the struggle. However the bout contract was signed for welterweight. Throughout struggle week, Gastelum got here in heavy – method heavy – and regardless of Rodriguez saying he provided a 180-pound catchweight, Gastelum apparently couldn’t hit that.
The struggle settled in at middleweight, the place Gastelum has spent a lot of his profession after a number of welterweight makes an attempt years again that resulted in weight misses, struggle cancellations and loads of drama. However in late 2023, he efficiently moved again to 170 kilos, and the presumption heading into UFC on ABC 6 was that it was his new division.
His miss and request to struggle a full 15 kilos up with out alerting the UFC, or his opponent, till deep into struggle week drew the ire of a lot, and after the occasion, UFC Corridor of Famer and former middleweight champion Michael Bisping, who was an analyst for the struggle on the ABC broadcast, lit into Gastelum – who has a win over Bisping.
“(Rodriguez) was proscribing in energy (throughout his camp),” Bisping mentioned on the ESPN+ post-fight present. “He wasn’t taking up the carbohydrates so that you simply get better from a coaching session – you lose muscle and all the remainder of it as a result of he was taking it severely. He needed to weigh in at 170 kilos, whereas Gastelum clearly wasn’t doing that all through the coaching camp. So due to this fact, you’re stronger, you’re extra athletic, you get better out of your coaching periods faster, and also you come into the struggle stronger and heavier.
“Each males had an amazing struggle. I assumed Daniel Rodriguez ought to be pleased with himself – actually, actually pushed Gastelum to the restrict. Gastelum, though he was heavy, nonetheless managed to maintain a great tempo for quarter-hour. The takedowns in Spherical 3 had been type of important as a result of Rodriguez was beginning to discover the mark on the cage. It was an excellent struggle. It actually was. Each males ought to be pleased with themselves. However Kelvin Gastelum, concerning the burden scenario, he ought to be ashamed of himself.”
Bisping was joined on the post-fight present by present UFC welterweight Michael Chiesa, who took purpose at Gastelum, as properly. He honed in on Gastelum’s post-fight interview within the cage with Daniel Cormier, through which when requested in regards to the weight miss provided an apology to Dana White and the UFC, mentioned he was making an attempt to be an organization man, and that it by no means would occur once more.
However Chiesa appeared to suggest Gastelum knew all alongside he wasn’t going to struggle at welterweight.
“The tempo that Kelvin Gastelum upheld via the course of the quarter-hour of that struggle tells me you didn’t attempt to make weight, as a result of if any person actually suffered making an attempt to make weight they usually miss, they’re not capable of maintain that sort of tempo,” Chiesa mentioned. “That tells me he didn’t strive. And the truth that he actually deflected Daniel Cormier’s query within the post-fight interview … He requested, ‘Hey, what was up with the burden miss?’ and Kelvin utterly deflected from it and delivered as soon as once more – and I hate to be arduous on the man, however I’ve to; it’s a part of my job – you delivered one other empty promise that it received’t occur once more.
“This has occurred too many instances with Kelvin Gastelum. He shouldn’t be allowed to signal a contract to struggle at welterweight ever once more.”
Gastelum received Season 17 of “The Final Fighter” greater than 11 years in the past at middleweight. He dropped to welterweight for his subsequent one, however after two fights at 170, he missed weight for the primary time. A pair fights later, he missed by 10 kilos for a struggle towards Tyron Woodley. He was ordered as much as middleweight, however returned to 170 one struggle later.
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than he was again to scale points, although, and at UFC 205, he didn’t even try to get on the dimensions for a struggle with Donald Cerrone. At the moment, White mentioned he’d by no means struggle at 170 within the UFC once more.
And at middleweight, he stayed for years till a return to 170 in December – regardless of White saying that he’d by no means permit it – and a submission loss to Sean Brady. After the burden debacle in Saudi Arabia, White as soon as once more is providing up phrases of disappointment, however it stays to be seen through which division Gastelum will struggle subsequent.
“We’re speaking about being an expert combined martial artist,” Bisping mentioned. “I at all times say there’s solely two issues you possibly can management: That you just present up on weight – that’s No. 1 – and that you simply’re in form. Should you don’t present up on weight, and for those who’re drained after one spherical, go and discover one thing else to do, as a result of this ain’t for you, since you’re imagined to be among the finest skilled combined martial artists on the planet.
“You signal a contract – each of you do. They promote tickets on it primarily based upon that. You may be combating for a world championship. Should you don’t present up on weight, 15 kilos over, maintain your head in disgrace.”
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UFC on ABC 6: Greatest photographs from Saudi Arabia
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UFC on ABC 6: Official scorecards from Saudi Arabia
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