MIAMI – Kelvin Gastelum couldn’t hold back his joy after he secured a much-needed win at UFC 287.
Gastelum (18-8 MMA, 12-8 UFC), who entered Saturday’s fight against Chris Curtis (30-10 MMA, 4-2 UFC) in Miami with losses in five of his past seven, knew how dire his situation was.
“The Ultimate Fighter 17” winner snapped a two-fight skid when he outlasted Curtis in a Fight of the Night effort, and there was a sense of relief for the former interim middleweight title challenger.
“I’m so happy,” Gastelum told reporters at the UFC 287 post-fight press conference. “It’s such a weight lifted off me, and I’m so happy. I couldn’t care less what’s wrong with my body.
“(It’s) up there with winning ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ because this was such an important fight for me – for my life, for my family, for my legacy. It was a very important fight for me.”
Although his losses have come to former champions and top-level competition, Gastelum thinks he likely saved his job in the UFC, too, with the win.
“It’s just knowing that I have a job still,” Gastelum added. “I feel like my job was on the line tonight, and knowing that I will be hopefully having a job still – having that security, it feels good.
“I’m not going to stick around too much longer. I’ve got a good four or five years in me left fighting these top guys. That’s what I plan on doing for the next four to five years. We’re going to go on another title run.”
Gastelum didn’t get to compete in 2022, but he plans to ramp up the activity after he kickstarted his year with a win.
“(I want to be) 3-0, baby. We want to fight at least two more times,” Gastelum said. “I want to stay active and fight one or two more times this year.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.
