After failing to make weight for proposed Welterweight matchups on four separate occasions, Kelvin Gastelum is determined to keep fighting at 170 pounds. This despite the fact that he looked good during his knockout victory over Tim Kennedy at last night’s (Sat., Dec. 10, 2016) UFC 206 event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
He would, however, stay at 185 pounds for his next bout if it means he gets a fight against none other than Vitor Belfort.
"I think if I’m offered a fight that interests me at 185, I don’t see why I wouldn’t stay here, but I think 170 is my optimum weight class," Gastelum said during the post-fight press conference (full video replay here) via MMA Junkie.
"I took this fight as a favor for the UFC. I knew they need a replacement for Rashad Evans, so I stepped in, and I heard they need another replacement in Brazil with Vitor Belfort, so if they want to make that happen, then I’ll do it. I’m willing to step up and do that as well."
Indeed, Gastelum accepted the fight against Kennedy on short notice after "Suga’s" recurring medical issues prevented him from getting licenses to fight (more on that here).
As for Gastelum, he vows to be more disciplined with his diet moving forward while comepte at welterweight to avoid further scale fails.
"I get too heavy outside of camp – that’s my problem," Gastelum said. "I like to eat my Mexican food, and it shouldn’t be that way. My whole camp is concentrated on losing the weight that I gained outside of camp. It just shouldn’t be that way," he added.
"I was able to get away with it the last few fights, but the older I get, the harder it is to cut the weight. I think if I change my lifestyle a little bit and create a better lifestyle and do better with my weight outside of training camp, I think it would be a better benefit."
Still, Kelvin should count his blessings that he still has a spot on the UFC roster, as missing weight on a constant basis is obviously something that doesn’t company president Dana White.
For complete UFC 206 results and coverage click here.