Kelvin Gastelum has gone by many names during his brief UFC tenure.
On The Ultimate Fighter, he was a long shot and then a surprise winner, which in turn made him a prospect. When he moved down to welterweight and quickly finished Brian Melancon, he became a dark horse before wins over Rick Story, Nico Musoke and Jake Ellenberger made him a bona fide title threat.
Now, the 23-year-old Yuma, Arizona native is looking to add pick up another tag: No. 1 contender.
Gastelum has answered every challenge thrown his way, and four consecutive victories inside the Octagon have him knocking on the door of much bigger things. UFC President Dana White has recently stated the 23-year-old Yuma-based fighter could earn a title shot with a victory over Tyron Woodley at UFC 183 on Saturday, which means Gastelum has traveled a long way in his two years competing on the biggest stage in MMA.
The UFC front man’s comments and an undefeated record with victories over the seasoned talents of Rick Story and Jake Ellenberger have taken Gastelum from the ranks of the relatively unknown to a vaunted position on the welterweight divisional hierarchy. When the amount of talent the UFC has in the 170-pound weight class is taken into consideration, it becomes clear what Gastelum has accomplished in such a short amount of time is an impressive accomplishment.
He is the proverbial new kid in town and also believes—at least up to this point—he’s the guy no one sees coming. Gastelum knows he has earned some respect among his peers, but doesn’t believe past opponents had any idea what they were truly in for. And that’s just fine by him. In fact, Gastelum hopes that his future opponents will also make that mistake.
“I think a lot of these guys underestimate me,” Gastelum told Bleacher Report. “They look at me and kind of see this kid who is trying to come up. But they don’t realize how strong I am or how fast I am until we get in there together. They don’t realize how athletic I can be. I also don’t believe I’ve been able to showcase my full potential inside the Octagon so that’s why these guys don’t really know.”
When it comes to expanding his skill set and developing to reach his full potential, Gastelum is willing to push himself in the name of progression. Where other fighters are willing to take things at a measured pace, the TUF 17 winner has sought out the best in the world at his weight class in search of the best education imaginable. That said, training with elite-level fighters provides a gauge for Gastelum to see where his talents currently stand, and where they have the ability go through hard work and dedication.
Progress is what matters most in Gastelum‘s mind and he believes he has what it takes to become the UFC welterweight champion.
“I’ve been trying out different camps since I started training,” Gastelum said. “I’ve been over with Georges St-Pierre in Montreal and over to Team Take Down with Johny Hendricks. I try to learn from these guys and see what separates them from the rest. Honestly, I have all the attributes to be right there with them. I just have to put in that work and work harder than everybody else. I’ve seen it. I’ve trained with them, and I know deep inside that I can get to that level.
“I’m learning so much every day and every fight is just a huge learning experience for me. Every fight I’ve had I feel like I’ve elevated my game. With every fight I’ve taken a step up in competition and I’ve stepped up to the plate to answer every one of those challenges. I just feel like I elevate my game and grow as both a fighter and a person. Whenever you guys see me inside the Octagon I’m learning so much and enjoying the ride.”
Although Gastelum has answered every subsequent challenge he’s faced inside the Octagon more impressively than the last, his upcoming bout against Tyron Woodley will hold a different set of circumstances. “The Chosen One” has dangerous power in his hands and has proven to be one of the best fighters in the 170-pound division. With the UFC President suggesting Gastelum could earn a title shot with a victory at UFC 183, that makes the matchup with Woodley the most high profile bout of his young career.
Gastelum appreciates the weight of the moment and welcomes any pressure it may bring. He’s a fighter who thrives when the stakes are high and he believes he will answer the challenge once again when the cage door closes at UFC 183.
“This fight against Woodley could do a lot of things for me,” Gastelum said. “A win over Woodley could skyrocket me to the top of the welterweight division, and this fight makes all the difference in the world. This fight will be the beginning of something new and something big for me. I know that for sure.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
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