Kelvin Gastelum, the UFC middleweight powerhouse, is fully embracing his decision to stay at 185 pounds as he gears up to face Joe Pyfer in the octagon at UFC Mexico this Saturday night.
Gastelum, with a record of 19 wins and 9 losses, had previously flirted with the idea of returning to the welterweight division. However, after a defeat at the hands of Sean Brady and some past struggles with making weight, the TUF 17 winner has firmly rooted himself in the middleweight category.
“Yeah, 185 is my home. I feel good about it—this is where I’ve had the best moments of my career,” Gastelum shared with the press on Wednesday.
“I’ve decided to stay here because it feels right. I’m happy and strong, and I’ve packed on muscle to keep up with these big opponents. Before, I was always on the fence about staying in the middleweight class.”
Gastelum’s legacy at middleweight includes a memorable bout with former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 236, a legendary fight that earned a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame.
“I did drop back to welterweight for a while, but when I fought for the title, I stuck with middleweight because things were working out. I was on a winning streak, fighting for titles—it just made sense,” he explained.
“Now, I know this is truly where I belong. I’m comfortable here, and I’m eager to showcase my skills against the top fighters globally. I’m absolutely committed to middleweight.”
His journey at 185 pounds resumes with an exciting matchup against Joe Pyfer, a formidable challenger who recently secured a stunning knockout victory over Marc-Andre Barriault at UFC 303. Initially, Gastelum wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about facing Pyfer.
“To be honest, I was a bit put off by this fight because Pyfer wasn’t really on my radar. I was hoping for a ranked opponent, someone with a bit more recognition,” he admitted.
“But on reflection, I realized that this is a significant test for me. I have to start from the ground up again, taking on these fierce young contenders. That’s what I’m here for—a new chapter in my life and my career. It’s about climbing back up the ranks, beginning with Joe Pyfer.”
Catch Gastelum’s full media day interview for all the insights. He meets Joe Pyfer at UFC Mexico on Saturday night, and it promises to be a fight you won’t want to miss.
