Kelvin Gastelum is one of the most talented mixed martial artists on the UFC's roster today.
The former Ultimate Fighter Season 17 winner has competed against the absolute best at both welterweight and middleweight, and has proven to be able to hang with them inside the cage. At welterweight, Gastelum has had difficulty on occasion making weight.
At welterweight, Gastelum has defeated the likes of former 170-pound champion Johny Hendricks. When he made the move up to middleweight, he took on the likes of Vitor Belfort, Chris Weidman, and Michael Bisping.
In regards to his fight with Belfort, Gastelum originally won via knockout but it was later overturned due to him testing positive for marijuana.
He'd bounce back to fight former middleweight champion Chris Weidman, and despite nearly finishing him early on and putting on a very competitive bout, he was finished via submission in the third round.
Gastelum rebounded with a fight in China against former middleweight champion Michael Bisping, who had lost his 185-pound title to Georges St-Pierre weeks before via submission. Gastelum obliterated the Englishman with a vicious first-round knockout.
Now, he's set to fight feared jiu-jitsu specialist Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza tomorrow night at UFC 224 on pay-per-view (PPV).
Souza comes off a big-time first round knockout win over Derek Brunson, and if Gastelum is able to get past the Brazilian, he feels he's in line for a title shot.
Gastelum recently spoke to the media prior to his UFC 224 contest and explained why he thinks a big statement, such as a knockout, over Souza could earn him a shot at the UFC gold (quotes via MMA Junkie):
“I feel like I need to beat him and make a statement,” Gastelum said. “If I don’t make a statement, I don’t think I’ll be able to contend for the title next.
"But if I go in there and knock him out in the first round, then I have no doubt that the next fight will be for the title.
“It means more than being a UFC champion – it means being a champion in life,” he said.
“I’ve had to overcome a lot of obstacles in life … it would mean much more than just a UFC championship. That no matter where we come from, we can achieve whatever we want.”
What are your thoughts on Gastelum saying he thinks he'll earn a shot at the UFC middleweight title with a win over Souza? Do you think that he deserves a shot at the title if he can dismantle the Brazilian? And who are you picking in tomorrow's match-up? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below!
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