Kelvin Gastelum didn’t need to battle Joe Pyfer this weekend.
On Saturday, Gastelum takes on Pyfer within the featured foremost card bout at UFC Mexico Metropolis. It’s Gastelum’s first battle since his unanimous choice win over Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Saudi Arabia final 12 months. That bout was a little bit of a fiasco for Gastelum because it was alleged to be a welterweight contest till weight points throughout battle week led to the bout being modified to a middleweight battle. This time there might be no such points although as Gastelum says his days of leaping between weight courses are over.
“Yeah, 185 is my residence,” Gastelum informed reporters at UFC Mexico Metropolis media day. “And you realize what? I be ok with it. That is the place I’ve had the most effective moments of my profession. That is the place I’m staying. I really feel good right here, I really feel pleased, and I really feel robust. I placed on a whole lot of muscle to have the ability to compete with these large guys.
“Earlier than, once I was competing at middleweight, I used to be undecided whether or not I used to be going to remain or not. I even went again right down to welterweight. … Once I was combating for the title, I stayed at middleweight as a result of I used to be doing properly. I used to be successful fights, I fought for the title, so I stayed at middleweight. The place now I really feel like that is my precise residence. I really feel good right here and I’m able to placed on an excellent present in opposition to a few of the finest fighters on the planet. I’m not undecided, I’m one hundred pc positive that is the place I’m staying.”
Although Gastelum received The Final Fighter 17 as a middleweight, he rapidly dropped right down to 170 kilos and had loads of success. Sadly, Gastelum was additionally affected by weight points, prompting a transfer as much as 185 kilos the place he challenged Israel Adesanya for the interim title at UFC 236. Although Gastelum misplaced a call that night time, the battle was the 2019 Combat of the Yr and is being inducted into the UFC Corridor of Fame this summer season.
So given his many accomplishments, Gastelum admits he was lower than impressed when the UFC provided him Joe Pyfer at UFC Mexico.
“At first I used to be somewhat bothered by the matchup, simply because he’s not somebody that I used to be searching for in a battle,” Gastelum stated. “He’s not on my radar. I needed somebody ranked. I needed somebody with a much bigger title. However you realize what? I really feel like this can be a large take a look at for me. I’ve received to begin from the underside once more. I’ve received to battle these younger killers and that’s what I’m right here to do. This can be a new chapter in my life, a brand new chapter in my profession, and I’ve received to construct my approach again as much as the rankings, and it begins with Joe Pyfer.”
Ought to Gastelum get previous Pyfer on Saturday, he’ll have loads of choices for what comes subsequent. And whereas he’s not searching for one other dance along with his UFC Corridor of Fame compatriot, if a rematch in opposition to Israel Adesanya is obtainable, Gastelum says he’s open to that.
“It’s not one thing that was in my radar but when it finally ends up taking place and the celebs align for it to occur, I don’t see why not,” Gastelum stated. “However so far as it being in my radar, it was not. Izzy and I’ve at all times been very cordial because the battle. He’s been nothing however respectful in the direction of me, so I really feel no sick will towards him. But when for no matter purpose the celebs align the place we’re matched up once more, then we’d have to think about it.”
UFC Mexico Metropolis takes place this Saturday at Enviornment CDMX in Mexico Metropolis.
