UPDATE: UFC veteran Kelvin Gastelum has just missed weight for his scheduled bout at UFC Noche, raising eyebrows just hours before the fight. Gastelum, 33, tipped the scales at 191 pounds, significantly above the 185-pound limit for his middleweight matchup against Dustin Stoltzfus on September 16, 2023.
Despite the weight miss, Stoltzfus has agreed to proceed with the fight, but the stakes have changed: he will receive 35 percent of Gastelum’s fight purse as a penalty. This marks the fourth time in Gastelum’s career that he has failed to make weight, and notably, it is his first as a middleweight.
Gastelum’s history with weight issues is well documented. He previously struggled at welterweight, missing weight for fights in 2014 and 2015. In a major controversy in 2016, the New York State Athletic Commission canceled his bout against Donald Cerrone after Gastelum weighed in too heavy, leading to a six-month suspension. As a result, he was forced to move up to middleweight.
The implications of missing weight are significant, not just for Gastelum’s reputation but also for his performance. With a record of 19-10 and a disappointing 3-7 in his last ten fights, every matchup is critical for his future in the UFC.
Fans are anxiously awaiting the fight, which will still take place as scheduled. The stakes have never been higher for Gastelum, who is looking to salvage his career with a victory at UFC Noche.
As the event unfolds, all eyes will be on him to see if he can overcome this latest setback and deliver a performance that fans expect from a former interim championship title challenger. Stay tuned for live updates and reactions as this developing story continues.