Under the watchful eye of respected nutritionist Mike Dolce there was a small clamor not too long ago for Kelvin Gastelum to consider dropping to Lightweight. Standing proudly from the scales in Indianapolis, Indiana and weighing in comfortably at 170 lbs ahead of his dominant win over Brian Melancon in August 2013, Gastelum looked like a young man with the MMA world at his feet.
After his impressive start at Welterweight, which saw him follow up on his debut submission win with a convincing decision victory over Rick Story, it wasn’t a question of whether Kelvin would rise to the top of the UFC, but rather a question of which division would he choose to do it in.
Fast forward 20 months and despite his reputation continuing to rise with a dominant performance at last night’s UFC 188 pay-per-view, his future is far less clear than initially thought.
UFC MUST RECONSIDER KELVIN GASTELUM STANCE
After a very public dressing down from UFC president Dana White at UFC 188’s post-fight press conference Gastelum has been forced to defend his right to fight at Welterweight and continue his ascension to the top of the division. White cited Gastelum’s checkered past — his 3-2 run of successful weight-cuts as a welterweight — as reason for why he will not be fighting in his preferred weight-class any time soon.
The main reason for such a bold and oppressive stance? “It screws a lot of things up around here”, White proclaimed from the podium. “He’s done nothing to prove that he can make 170 pounds”.
While Gastelum’s failed attempts are not to be taken lightly, and they are wise to send a message to fighters that missing weight is a big indiscretion, the UFC president’s stance clearly ignores Gastelum’s initial success of making weight under the guidance of the trusted Mike Dolce. More poignantly, we must ask whether it is ethical for UFC to take such a stance with Gastelum with all things considered.
WHERE DID IT START TO GO WRONG
Due to a surprising severance of ties between Gastelum and Dolce — the reasons for which it is believed were financial — since his spectacular welterweight debut, he has been coordinating his own nutrition and weight-cut with the help of his team.
The success rate for his partnership with Dolce is there for all to see, and despite a limited sample size for which to compare, it is blindingly obvious that Gastelum looked his best under Dolce’s guidance. The numbers don’t lie, nor does the visual of Gastelum’s first weigh-in in Indianapolis in 2013 in which he looked nothing short of spectacular. Healthy and effective inside the cage, it was Gastelum in the best shape of his career. Since then, though, Gastelum has displayed an inability to make the Welterweight limit of 171 lbs on a regular basis without expert guidance in his corner.
The UFC is right to call him out on it, but the statistics confirm beyond any doubt that the Yuma, Arizona native can make the Welterweight limit in a safe, comfortable manner and perform to his best in doing so.
The reasons for his trouble making weight? If you ask Mike Dolce, his former associate who is open to working with him in the future, it is due to a lack of discipline in the off-season. An inability to stick to his diet, and poor coordination in timing his weight-cut. In other words – he does not have the correct people in his corner and the accumulative knowledge pool from which to draw in order to help him reach his athletic potential.
Valid points, and none of which reflect well on Gastelum’s professionalism outside of the cage. However, it is vital the UFC acknowledges that all of the aforementioned issues can be addressed with minimal fuss if the 23 year old is given the assistance that he sorely needs. Based on recent interviews Gastelum is more than ready to take the necessary steps and change his lifestyle outside of the cage ahead of returning to welterweight, and after last night’s performance he is more than worthy of being given the opportunity to do just that.
NOT A NEW SITUATION FOR THE UFC
This is not the first time the UFC has reached a crossroads with a fighter with regards to missing weight on more than one occasion. To the UFC’s credit, they have always handled these situations with care and reached an accurate, fair decision.
Just look at Henry Cejudo, Olympic Gold medalist and fellow phenom, who was also victorious at last night’s event in Mexico City. Until recently his career was blighted with similar issues with regards to weight and whether or not he could meet the flyweight limit of 126 pounds on a regular basis. He was faced with the exact same situation as Gastelum and ended up being forced to fight at bantamweight for his UFC debut. He was successful in proving his professionalism and ultimately earned the right to have a second chance at 125 pounds.
Since the UFC’s ultimatum there has not been a moment’s doubt as to where he should be fighting. Whilst fighting at bantamweight, the watching world acknowledged that he could never be a bantamweight in the long-run – just as anyone who watches Gastelum fight can see that he should not be fighting middleweights for the rest of his career. In defeating Nate Marquardt last night, a much larger competitor known for his vicious knockout power, I believe that Gastelum earned a second chance to fight at welterweight, but now it is a question of whether the UFC shares the same belief.
WHAT DOES THE UFC GAIN FROM THIS
The flawed logic in forcing a mixed martial artist to fight at a weight-class that he doesn’t feel comfortable with does not need explaining. It is clear that weight-classes are put in place for a reason and the reason is to protect athletes from competing in fights which are not deemed fair.
Gastelum has very admirably swallowed his pride and admitted that he does not feel that he can compete with the middleweight division’s elite –- among them the hulking presences of Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold to name just two –- and that his best chance of entering into even competition would be at welterweight.
To deny a man the ability to fight where he feels safe is dangerous, irresponsible and under certain circumstances could come back to haunt the UFC. While it goes without saying that, while undersized, Kelvin is still undefeated against the middleweight’s lower ranks, this does not change the fact that he is a natural welterweight.
At 5 ft 9, Gastelum is the joint-shortest member of the UFC’s middleweight ranks. His reach of 71 inches also outlines a disadvantage when compared to other fighters in the division, and with heavy hitters unavoidable at 185 pounds, such statistics are far from meaningless when they have such bearing on success in striking exchanges.
The only other active Middleweight standing at 5 ft 9 is Daniel Sarafian, a Brazilian fighter who has experienced mixed success, but who enjoys a reach advantage over Gastelum of two inches. After Sarafian, is Antonio Dos Santos, standing at 5 ft 10, with a reach advantage of one inch, underlining the fact that Gastelum is statistically undersized for Middleweight.
For comparisons sake, middleweight champion Chris Weidman is five inches taller than Gastelum and enjoys a seven inch reach advantage. By the same token, Robbie Lawler, welterweight champion and the man who Gastelum would most like to fight, is two inches taller than Gastelum and would also hold a reach advantage of three inches.
The latter statistic explains some of the logic behind Gastelum potentially even cutting to lightweight, although with his stocky build it would be questionable to say the least. One thing is for sure though – Gastelum is not physically on par with his peers at middleweight and because of this it is of paramount importance that he establishes his home at welterweight.
A BIG FUTURE AT THE RIGHT WEIGHT CLASS
I do not doubt for a moment that the UFC is looking out for Gastelum when they suggest he sticks at middleweight, fearing that he may jeopardize his health with further botched weight cuts. I wholeheartedly agree that excessive weight-cutting is a major issue that needs tackling, but in Gastelum’s case the solutions to the problems of his own making are easy to find and the facts merit an opportunity for him to continue his ascension up the welterweight ladder.
It is unclear when Gastelum will fight again, and I am sure that his representatives will be speaking to Joe Silva in the very near future, but what is clear beyond any measure of doubt is that his next fight should be at welterweight. Gastelum doesn’t turn 24 until October and has years of improvement ahead of him, but the most important decision of his career will be his next one. He must accept that he needs to make big changes in his lifestyle and diet and align himself with the right people to harness his undoubted ability.
All of this will be in vain though if the UFC refuses to reconsider their stance and allow him to prove as good as his word. Should Gastelum dig his heels in and refuse to fight at 185 it could create an unsavory stand-off which may have far-reaching implications should he somehow become available to Bellator.
With Gastelum’s age, talent and marketability within Latin America in mind, it seems only logical the UFC would go the extra mile for their fighter and offer assistance in making weight. Would this be unfair to other fighters who are not afforded the same treatment? Perhaps, but I don’t think you will find many observers questioning whether or not Gastelum is worth it.
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