Kelvin Gastelum Wants To Fight For A Guaranteed Title Shot At Middleweight Or Welterweight

Kelvin Gastelum is riding high off the back of his knockout win over former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping and he’s now looking to get into the title mix at either welterweight or middleweight.

Despite his success at 185-pounds, Gastelum has never ruled out the possibility of returning to welterweight and speaking on the ESPN ‘5 Rounds’ podcast today he made it clear that fighting at 170-pounds isn’t something he’s abandoned.

“I am still embedded at middleweight, but the welterweight division is always there,” Gastelum said. “I’m always keeping my eye on that division as well and I’m always watching those fights as well. Who is fighting and who is losing. Yeah.”

When asked whether he’d prefer a #1 contender fight at either welterweight or middleweight, Gastelum wouldn’t pick between the two, but instead outlined that he happily fight at either weight if he could return in 12 weeks time.

“Well shoot, both put me in the same position,” Gastelum said. “Right, they both put me in the same position to fight for the title so I guess it’s [about] which one pays more money.”

“I weigh probably around 205-pounds and I was probably a little heavier because I did enjoy my holidays, but I’ve started training and I’ve been moving around already, but I’m back in the gym and getting back in shape. Like I said, I want to fight in May, so, and like I said, I want to fight in May and welterweight is always an option. I am training.”

Having missed weight three times at 170-pounds and had to pull out of another bout just 24-hours prior to the fight, Gastelum’s record making the welterweight limit is sketchy to say the least. Regardless, the Kings MMA man says that’s all behind him now and that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get himself a title shot at 170-pounds.

“No that wouldn’t be much of a concern to me,” Gastelum said. “Like I said, I just want the fights that will guarantee me the title shot and if it’s at welterweight then I will make the cut. The cut is dreadful, yes and the diet is extreme, but if it’s worth it then I will do it.”