MIAMI – Kelvin Gastelum is well aware of his dire circumstances going into UFC 287, and instead of shying away from it, he’s embracing it.
Gastelum (16-8 MMA, 11-8 UFC) enters Saturday’s featured preliminary bout with Chris Curtis (30-9 MMA, 4-1 UFC) at Kaseya Center with five losses in his past six fights. Every bout in that stretch came against high-level competition, but no matter how you slice it, “The Ultimate Fighter 17” winner needs to get his hand raised in his ESPN-televised middleweight bout, which airs prior to the pay-per-view main card and following prelims on ESPN+.
Add the recent skid to the fact Gastelum hasn’t seen action since August 2021 due to multiple injuries and canceled bouts, and it hasn’t been the best time in his life. He said he’s managed to turn a corner at just the right time, though, and enters UFC 287 in a positive place.
