Kelvin Gastelum’s struggles on the scale are becoming increasingly frequent.
Gastelum (19-10 MMA, 14-10 UFC) missed weight yet again ahead of Noche UFC last week, coming in five pounds over the middleweight limit. While the fight still went ahead — with Gastelum winning by decision — his opponent Dustin Stoltzfus pocketed 35% of Gastelum’s paycheck as a result of the miss.
It was the latest in a long series of weigh-in issues throughout Gastelum’s career. The Ultimate Fighter Season 17 winner is now in his second stint in the middleweight division following another unsuccessful run at 170 pounds, and he has now missed weight twice in his last three fights.
Gastelum revealed during his post-fight interview in San Antonio, Texas, that he had accepted the fight against Stoltzfus on just four weeks’ notice — and prominent MMA coach and analyst Ray Longo believes that played a major role in the weight miss.
"Part of the play – I don't want to say this – is the UFC, too," Longo said on the Anik & Florian Podcast. "They're asking a guy on a month's notice to fight, and it's the old saying, 'You put a gun in a monkey's hand and he shoots somebody, whose fault is it?' That's what they did. They know the guy can't make the weight, most likely. It's not in their favor. Go with a guy that is a guaranteed lock."
Longo said that he feels for Gastelum, and wonders if the 33-year-old might be in need of some expert help.
"I like Kelvin. He's really been a nice guy from the first day I met him. But I do think he's got a serious eating disorder," Longo said. "He might fall into a category. He's struggling with something. I believe he's struggling. I don't think it's that he doesn't care. ... You want to believe it's not just like, 'I don't give a f*ck.'
"But when you sign that agreement – I really believe this guy struggles with something or his body's not responding like a normal person. I don't know. I could be completely wrong. I feel bad for him because it's not a good look. Don't sign the agreement if you can't make the weight."
