Dana White recently became very disappointed with Kelvin Gastelum and he didn’t hesitate to show the same during the Saudi Arabia Fight Night. “I’m not thrilled with Kelvin Gastelum right now. This guy’s missed weight like three times in his career,” claimed White, referencing how they had to change the fight class from welterweight to middleweight at the last moment. Gastelum spent most of his post-fight interview at UFC Saudi Arabia apologizing to White for the same, but it seems like his words are not enough anymore. 

Not just White, but another UFC veteran isn’t happy with Kelvin Gastelum’s conduct as while speaking to Bryan Callen, Brian Simpson, and Brendan Schaub, Joe Rogan revealed the fighter had the potential to be a great 170 fighter but the dream is still a dream.

Joe Rogan echoes Dana White’s disappointment

Gastelum apologized to the UFC head honcho because he could not make weight and his team informed his opponent, Daniel Rodriguez, that there was not a single way that he was going to make the welterweight limit any time soon. So, the former welterweight fight had to be converted into a middleweight fight on short notice. Speaking about the same in a live via his JRE YouTube channel, Joe Rogan revealed that he had an encounter with Gastelum 8 years ago and the two spoke at length about the fighter’s weight class.

“Bro I had a conversation with him maybe 8 years ago at the store. We were going out and I said Kelvin, if you just got disciplined and dropped down to 170, you’re a world champion. He said, ‘I know,’”  claimed the famed podcaster. However, even if he did know, there has been no change after so many years and he is still fighting 185lbs.

Gastelum won on a unanimous decision however, even winning did not get him Dana White’s favor. It was the fourth time since joining UFC that Gastelum, who has a record of 19-9, struggled to make the weight before his fight. “You got kids taking fights on a week’s notice, jumping on cards, coming over here and making weight and Kelvin doesn’t make weight. It’s extremely disappointing,” White added during the post-match press conference.

Meanwhile, despite the disappointment, the fighter has had some good moments in his UFC career.

Kelvin Gastelum obliterating his opponents and his training method

He is one of the most impressive middleweight fighters in UFC and even won the latest UFC fight night in Saudi Arabia. Gastelum has taken on fighters like Tim Kennedy and dominated them through the fight to eventually have a TKO victory by landing a brutal combination of punches. He also defeated Brian Melancon and got a first-round submission in 2 minutes. He has also defeated Rick Story, Jake Ellenberger, and even Michael Bisping.

His fighting style includes wrestling and he is a 5A Division II title holder in AIA. He carried his wrestling forward when he decided to join North Idaho College and he became the 5th in the NJCAA as a freshman. Then he joined MMA and devoted his life to the UFC. His discipline includes firring 1-2 combinations in a fight. he added his skills in the BJJ and has a black belt in the ‘10th Planet Jiu Jitsu’ Brian Beaumont.

He is disciplined and determined but has not gained weight in other classes and was overweight in this latest fight for the welterweight division. The 32-year-old struggles to cut down to 170lbs. However, in his interview, he revealed that this time he had an easier time shredding weight and a better understanding.

Do you think he will be able to make it to the welterweight anytime soon in his career? Drop your views in the comments.