Kelvin Gastelum hit the scale at 191 pounds during Noche UFC 3 weigh-ins on September 12 2025. The middleweight non title limit stands at 185. This five pound miss marks his fourth career failure and first at 185. The fight against Dustin Stoltzfus proceeds at catchweight. Gastelum forfeits 35 percent of his purse to Stoltzfus. The event takes place September 13 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio Texas headlined by Diego Lopes versus Jean Silva at featherweight.
Stoltzfus made weight at 185.5 pounds. All other fighters on the 13 bout card hit marks. Gastelum arrived late in the two hour window drawing stares from officials. He blamed illness in a post weigh in statement but took full blame. This comes as his 25th UFC appearance with a 3 and 7 record over the last 10 fights.
#NocheUFC weigh-in results: Kelvin Gastelum (@KelvinGastelum) 191 pic.twitter.com/G3ihWmrhBD
— Amy Kaplan (@PhotoAmy33) September 12, 2025
Gastelums Rise from TUF Winner to Weight Cut Struggler
Kelvin Gastelum started MMA in 2006 after high school wrestling in Yuma Arizona. His amateur run went 14 wins and zero losses. He turned pro in 2008 winning seven straight regional bouts mostly by decision. In 2013 Gastelum joined The Ultimate Fighter season 17 at welterweight. He beat Uriah Hall by unanimous decision in the final to claim the contract.
His UFC debut followed on August 28, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 27, where he submitted Brian Melancon with a rear-naked choke in the first round. Gastelum racked up wins at 170 pounds, including unanimous decisions over Rick Story (2014), Jake Ellenberger (2014), and Johny Hendricks (2016). He stopped Nate Marquardt by TKO (corner stoppage) at UFC 188 on June 13, 2015. His peak came with a win over Vitor Belfort at UFC on Fortaleza on March 11, 2017, by first-round TKO. That win was later overturned to a no-contest due to Gastelum testing positive for marijuana metabolites.
Weight issues emerged early. In 2015, he missed the welterweight limit by 1.75 pounds at UFC 183, weighing 171.75 for a catchweight bout against Tyron Woodley, which he lost by split decision. The Texas Athletic Commission issued a 30 percent purse fine.
Gastelum shifted to middleweight in 2016 after welterweight cuts proved too tough. He scored a third-round TKO over Tim Boetsch at UFC 206 on December 10, 2016. He then beat Michael Bisping by first-round knockout at UFC Fight Night 122 on November 25, 2017, earning performance of the night.
He last fought Joe Pyfer at UFC 316 on June 7, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey, where he was dropped early and outworked over three rounds, losing by unanimous decision with scores of 29-28, 29-27, and 30-27.
Pros reacted quickly to Gastelum’s 191-pound weigh-in. Social media posts reflected frustration with his recurring issue.
Derek Brunson posted, “Five pounds damn. Buddy just said F it.” He suggested Gastelum face Bryan Battle, recently released for a weight miss.
They should’ve just did Kelvin Gastelum v Bryan Battle , where they just stepped on the scale at whatever weight and fought . 5lbs damn , buddy just said f it ! 😂😂😂
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 12, 2025
🚨BREAKING NEWS : Kelvin Gastelum v Bryan Battle for the UFC FMF belt (fat mfer ) 😂😂😂
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 12, 2025
Only one man can help kelvin pic.twitter.com/YEveutjIqd
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 12, 2025
He is not fatty , people said he is fat be he is not. My grandmother used to say some people has it high stomach or bloated stomach.
I can send secret juice 🧃 next time for my brother. pic.twitter.com/4KhRbrB5Ej— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) September 12, 2025
Didn’t he do a sit down with Nina this week and talk about bringing back his missing weight show? If you missed by 5lbs you knew you were missing, psychopath behavior to joke about it before you do it. https://t.co/XIFbRBbUBV
— Zac Pauga (@ZacPauga) September 12, 2025
Dude I think they should remake man vs food starting kelvin gastelum. But that’s just the start of my mma remakes. We will also do here comes the boom with Alvin Hines and Steven Asplund. Then remake warrior with the Walker bros. All gas ideas. Remake fresh prince of bel air…
— Julius Walker (@YourFavJuiceBox) September 12, 2025
Gastelum apologized on Instagram, citing a sudden illness but owning the error. He promised a strong showing Saturday.
