Dana White on Kelvin Gastelum's move to welterweight: I don't think he can do it

[La Paix]

Kelvin Gastelum proved how dominating a middleweight he can be Saturday, forcing veteran Nate Marquardt to mercy before the third and final round at UFC 188.

Looking ahead, the former Ultimate Fighter 17 champion expressed a desire to become a welterweight, but UFC president Dana White is critical of the move.

"I honestly don’t believe he can make 170. He’s done nothing to prove that he can make 170 pounds. When he doesn’t make 170 pounds, a) it’s dangerous and b) it screws a lot of things up around here," White said in the post-fight press conference.

White isn't wrong, either. Gastelum formerly had issues shedding weight when he was scheduled to fight Tyron Woodley. He appeared at the weigh-ins nine pounds over, and it affected his combat abilities.

White actually believes Gastelum fits right at home in the middleweight cohort.

"He looked great at 185. He looked healthy," White said. "He didn’t look like he was going to die at the weigh-ins and he fought great tonight. If you’re me or anybody who remotely cares about the kid, where would you want him to fight?"

theScore

 

[Silverball]

"He looked great at 185. He looked healthy," White said. "He didn’t look like he was going to die at the weigh-ins and he fought great tonight. If you’re me or anybody who remotely cares about the kid, where would you want him to fight?"

Dana being Dana. Kelvin looked to be carrying too much weight last night, and honestly, look at who he fought. Kelvin himself knows what division he belongs in, and it's a goofy situation that a promoter would make him fight out of his weight class because of some ongoing butt hurt on the UFC's part.

 

[ThatOneDude]

I wouldn't call them being upset with him being 9 lbs over 'butt hurt'. That's unprofessional as fuck at that level.

 

[Punch]

Kelvin looked doughy last night.

 

[Darqnezz]

"He looked great at 185. He looked healthy," White said. "He didn’t look like he was going to die at the weigh-ins and he fought great tonight. If you’re me or anybody who remotely cares about the kid, where would you want him to fight?"

Dana being Dana. Kelvin looked to be carrying too much weight last night, and honestly, look at who he fought. Kelvin himself knows what division he belongs in, and it's a goofy situation that a promoter would make him fight out of his weight class because of some ongoing butt hurt on the UFC's part.

Dana' s right. He can't make weight. I'd put a stipulation in his contract that if he failed to make weight it's an automatic loss on his record & complete forfeiture of his loot. Then let him fight in any division he chooses.

 

[Silverball]

Dana' s right. He can't make weight. I'd put a stipulation in his contract that if he failed to make weight it's an automatic loss on his record & complete forfeiture of his loot. Then let him fight in any division he chooses.

Dana's rarely right, and this time is no exception. Kelvin hasn't handled either his diet or cut correctly thus far, but he's capable of turning that around as soon as he decides to get serious. We're not talking a Rumble Johnson at welterweight situation here.

 

[Narcosynthesis]

He can stand to lose some fat. Wouldn't hurt him. But if he's talking about draining himself of water in order to make 170 lbs, yea that's probably not a good idea.

 

[Zeph]

Kelvin needs to turn up at UFC 189 or 190, looking healthy, not drained and dizzy, drop a scale in front of Dana, weigh in at 170, not 171, and say 'I'm ready to go, put me in coach'.

 

[Ministry of Silly Walks]

i thought dana said he needs to take his diet seriously before he can make 170. that is something he needs to do, if he wants to fight at welter.

 

[Wild]

Kelvin needs to turn up at UFC 189 or 190, looking healthy, not drained and dizzy, drop a scale in front of Dana, weigh in at 170, not 171, and say 'I'm ready to go, put me in coach'.

Something like that needs to happen. He needs to do a couple cuts during camp, and record them or something. As much as Dana disgusts me, Kelvin's going to have to prove it.

 

[FeeO]

I think Kelvin truly doesn't understand the concept of eating like an elite athlete. I love Kelvin but he needs to understand that his body is the tool of his employment and maintain it, not gorge/starve it depending on the calendar. Maybe guys with different body types can get away with that, but he's thick. Sorry, KG.

 

[WoodenPupa]

It's hard to fight the ancient lizard part of your brain that wants to consume. Gastelum and Hendricks are losing battles to their inner lizards which are commanding them to eat every hour.

 

[WoodenPupa]

Hendrix and Gastelum sprawled over a huge pile of gold coins with fat lizard eye slits, hypnotized into slimy satiation. Bones of 125 lbers poking through their boa bellies.

 

[FeeO]

Yeah, Kelvin's so young too, probably doesn't help the long-game decision making. Still, he's gotta train that lizard brain to eat money!

 

[WoodenPupa]

Just look at those eyes. He is devouring somebody in his mind here. Some reporter is rambling on with his question and Kelvin can't even hear him. He sees dinner talking to him.

 

[WoodenPupa]

Yeah, Kelvin's so young too, probably doesn't help the long-game decision making. Still, he's gotta train that lizard brain to eat money!

He probably sees a mentor in Hendricks. They text each other with lizard claws while munching on taco bell at 3 a.m. In Kelvin's trash can is a torn up picture of Anthony Johnson, who betrayed the lizard cause by getting his urges under control.

 

[FeeO]

Just look at those eyes. He is devouring somebody in his mind here. Some reporter is rambling on with his question and Kelvin can't even hear him. He sees dinner talking to him.

I think you're right. I only saw sweet-faced baby Kelvin, but his claws retracted. He's deceptively earnest.

Ben Askren set me wise to Hendricks though.

 

[WoodenPupa]

I only saw sweet-faced baby Kelvin, but his claws retracted

LOL!