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Kelvin Gatelum issued an apology after losing in quick fashion to Jack Hermansson this weekend.
UFC middleweight Kelvin Gastelum landed on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island in need of a win. The former TUF winner was coming off back-to-back losses to Darren Till and Israel Adesanya. However, against Jack Hermansson, he’d last just 78 seconds and stretch that losing streak to three fights.
At UFC Fight Island 2: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2, Gastelum wound up on the wrong end of a highlight reel finish after his Swedish opponent locked in an early heel hook.
The loss was only the second stoppage defeat of Gastelum’s career (after an arm triangle choke loss to Chris Weidman in 2017). After this latest defeat Gastelum took to Instagram to offer an apology for those he feels he let down.
“Truly embarrassed guys,” wrote Gastelum. I’m sorry. My team, my family, [UFC], [Dana White], [Mick Maynard]. I’m much better than what was shown tonight. Thanks to all my family, my team and my friends for the ongoing support. I love you all.”
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated,” continued Gastelum. “In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so [you] can know who [you] are, what [you] can rise from, how [you] can still come out of it.”
This weekend’s loss dropped Gastelum’s record to 15-6 (1). All six of his defeats have occurred in the last five years, the first of which being a catchweight bout versus Tyron Woodley at UFC 183 in January 2015.
Since that Woodley loss Gastelum has scored wins over Nate Marquardt, Johny Hendricks, Tim Kennedy, Michael Bisping, and Jacare Souza.
Gastelum is currently ranked 7th in the UFC’s middleweight rankings, one spot behind Hermansson.