Kelvin Gastelum plans to ‘reaffirm’ to himself and everyone that he’s ‘one of the baddest dudes in the world’ at UFC 287
Kelvin Gastelum knows his fight against Chris Curtis at UFC 287 is a big scrap for his career.
Gastelum is fighting for the first time since August of 2021 when he lost to Jared Cannonier by decision. Since then, Gastelum has been dealing with some injuries that have kept him out of action. But, on Saturday night he will end his layoff and face Curtis and admits the time off has been tough on him mentally.
“It’s been hard on me, it’s been hard on my family – it’s been hard. I went through the valley of the shadow of death on my own. That’s what it feels like. Mentally I was getting depressed, getting the injuries I was like, ‘What’s going on with my life? Why is this happening?’ I went through all that. But finally I’m on the other side now,” Gastelum said at UFC 287 media day.
Now that Gastelum is finally able to return at UFC 287, he knows this scrap is massive for his career. He is 1-5 in his last six and has lost two in a row to Cannonier and Robert Whittaker. Although his losses have come to some of the best in the division, he knows he needs to win and he plans to remind everyone just how good he is.
“I’m here to reaffirm to myself that I’m one of the baddest dudes in the world,” Gastelum said. “And it’s going to turn and it’s going to let everybody else know. I’m here this weekend more as a reaffirmation to myself that I’m still here amongst the best.”
Kelvin Gastelum is currently ranked 15th and is the betting favorite against Chris Curtis who is coming off a KO win over Joaquin Buckley. Gastelum’s last win came back in February of 2021 when he beat Ian Heinisch by decision at UFC 258.
