Kelvin Gastelum cemented his place as a legitimate contender for the Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight title in the UFC 224 co-main event on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro. What makes the former welterweight’s rise at 185 pounds even more fascinating is how it mirrors the ascent of another undersized fighter: Frankie Edgar.
Many observers were perplexed when the 5-foot-9 Gastelum made the move to 185 pounds. Sure, we all know about his issues with making the 171-pound welterweight limit, but at 24 years of age and with a 6-2 record in the division, additional maturity and the use of a nutritionist seemed to be a better solution.