Next a disappointing to start with spherical heel hook defeat at the arms of Jack Hermansson (watch it below), Kelvin Gastelum finds himself on a a few struggle dropping skid.
Confident, the initial of these losses was to Israel Adesanya in the toughest combat of the ascendant champion’s job. But his flat and tentative loss from Darren Until had persons questioning no matter if he’d dropped some of his drive to compete, and this hottest Hermansson defeat arrived following Kelvin after all over again authorized himself to sit in a unsafe position on the ground far too very long, similar to his reduction versus Chris Weidman in 2017.
For a guy who was poised to cement a spot at the top rated of the middleweight division, it is been a sobering many months. And no one particular is evidently conscious of that more than Gastelum himself, who issued a statement subsequent his most recent L on Combat Island.
“Truly embarrassed guys,” Gastelum wrote. “I’m sorry. My group, my family @UFC @danawhite @Mickmaynard2. I’m considerably improved than what was demonstrated tonight. Thanks to all my family , my group and my close friends for the ongoing aid. I love you all.”
“You may perhaps come upon a lot of defeats, but you need to not be defeated,” he completed. “In truth, it may perhaps be required to face the defeats, so u can know who u are, what u can increase from, how u can nevertheless occur out of it.”
This hottest reduction drops Gastelum to 15-6-1 and may end result in him dropping from #7 in the UFC middleweight rankings out of the best 10.
While UFC president Dana White didn’t remark on Gastelum’s quick defeat at Fight Island 2, he built it obvious coming into the weekend that the remarkable fighter wasn’t on slim ice with the promotion.
“He’s normally in it,” White stated. “He’s usually correct there. We’ll find out. I really don’t assume it’s a crossroads fight, nevertheless. This is a child that get, reduce or attract will continue to be in the top rated 10, will however be enjoyable and can pull out a get with one punch.”
What do you feel, Maniacs? Can Kelvin change points all-around and claw his way again into the major five or are things not hunting very good for the 28 yr aged Supreme Fighter winner?