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Kelvin Gastelum’s weight-cutting issues continue to be an issue, according to the one-time interim title challenger.
Gastelum is slated to meet Daniel Rodriguez in a featured welterweight bout at Saturday’s UFC Saudi Arabia event. During Thursday’s media day, Gastelum was asked about his second fight camp since returning to the 170-pound division following a 12-fight run at middleweight, and the 32-year-old opened up about a tough road to the fight — and to the scale later this week.
“To be honest, this has been a pretty hard training camp,” Gastelum said at media day. “There’s a lot of things that went on behind the scenes that a lot of people don’t know, don’t get to see, but it’s been pretty hard to get my weight down this time around. [It’s been] harder than last time.
“I am pretty worried this week [about making the weight], but we’re going to talk with the manager and come up with the best game plan. But I think we’re in for a rough weight cut.”
Gastelum made weight for his welterweight return against Sean Brady at UFC Austin this past December, and suffered a lopsided submission loss. Gastelum missed weight on several occasions before moving up, which included a scratched fight with Donald Cerrone for the at UFC 205, the UFC’s debut at Madison Square Garden in November 2016.
Rodriguez then took the podium and was asked about Gastelum’s comments before informing the media members in attendance that the UFC has reached out to him, and that he has agreed to the bout being moved to a middleweight contest.
“Actually, the matchmakers reached out and I tried to get it to a catchweight, but he must be having such a bad fight camp that he can’t even make 180,” Rodriguez said. “I’m currently 179 pounds, so I have to put weight back on. It’s been 13 weeks since I found out about this fight. I’m sure he has, too, so the fact that he’s saying he’s having a bad fight camp, it makes no sense. I feel like it’s lack of discipline. I don’t know if he’s having a bad fight camp, or he’s just being lazy and doesn’t want to make the weight.
“I already agreed to a [fight at] 185. I’m so invested in this fight that they put me in a really tough spot. I need this fight to happen. It’s been such a long fight camp, and I did agree to take a percentage of his purse, which is only fair. I just felt like 180 would’ve been a good weight, but it’s not my first time coming through for the company, and I want the UFC to know that I’m that guy that’s going to make the sacrifices — even if it’s not in my favor.”
The UFC has yet to officially announce the change, though the Saudi Arabia event page currently lists Gastelum vs. Rodriguez as a middleweight bout. A person with knowledge of the promotion’s plans told MMA Fighting earlier that discussions were ongoing, and that an update was to be expected to soon.
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