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Kelvin Gastelum In Hunt For UFC Title

By @DanDudleyJr

Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

Kelvin Gastelum is currently one of the UFC‘s best up-and-coming prospects. Winner of the Ultimate Fighter 17 despite being picked last and a heavy underdog going into his very first bout. He proved many wrong in winning the show and now with his unbeaten record still intact – despite still being a novice in the sport of MMA. He is getting closer and closer to a title shot every time he fights.

Gastelum, who is of Mexican heritage, has been given the opportunity and is privileged to be fighting at UFC 180 in their first-ever event in Mexico. He will be fighting in the co-main event against no. 8 ranked welterweight Jake Ellenberger in what will definitely be his toughest opponent to date. However, Gastelum is used to being an underdog, and has stated that he trains better knowing that his opponent is better than him, as it makes him grow and improve in specific areas of the sport.

Usually training out of Yuma United MMA in Arizona, Gastelum has split his fight camp for this bout with Ellenberger between Yuma and the prestigious Alliance MMA. In the past, he has been contacted by both Georges St-Pierre and current welterweight champion Johny Hendricks to help them prepare for bouts.

Also, now training at Alliance with former champions and top contenders such as Dominick Cruz, Phil Davis, Ross Pearson and Alexander Gustafsson, Gastelum knows exactly how it feels to fight the best on the planet.

Gastelum is heading into the biggest fight of his career with a perfect professional MMA record of nine wins and zero losses. His wins show his versatility in his game as they include three wins by knockout, three by submission and three coming via decision. He already holds victories over top-level fighters such as Uriah Hall, Nico Musoke and Rick Story.

With an expected win over Ellenberger, the no. 11 ranked welterweight Gastelum should go above a number of contenders and into the top seven or eight UFC welterweights. Taking one more step closer to UFC gold, Gastelum has the ability, attributes and the right people around him to become a UFC champion.

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