Kelvin Gastelum returned to the Octagon on Saturday night in desperate need of a win. Dropping five of his last six, Gastelum is barely clinging to his No. 15 middleweight ranking. He faced another tough test at UFC 287 against Chris Curtis. A winner in nine of his last ten outings with seven by way of stoppage, ‘The Action Man’ looked to continue his climb up the rankings at the expense of the one-time interim title challenger.
Round 1
Kelvin Gastelum came out pressuring early and looking light on his feet. Inside leg kick from Curtis and Gastelum responded with a barrage of strikes. Gastelum doing a little showboating in the opening minute as he continued to pepper Curtis’ leg with inside leg kicks. Curtis landed lean with a stiff right hand, but Gastelum responded with a big right of his own. Gastelum continues to attack the leg, putting a straight right hand behind it. Curtis is not backing down despite eating some serious shots from Gastelum. Curtis is now bleeding over his right eye.
Round 2
Kelvin Gastelum came out continuing to bounce and attack the leg. Curtis lands a combination of strikes in the opening minute, prompting Gastelum to respond with a solid right hand. Body shot by Curtis, but he goes down in the process due to a clash of heads. Gastelum jumps on top of his back. Curtis escapes out the back door and the two clinch up against the fence with Gastelum fishing for a single leg. Curtis breaks free and returns to the center of the Octagon. Overhand left from Gastelum lands followed by a right. Curtis moves in to attack and the fighters exchange heavy strikes in the pocket. Curtis digs into the body and then goes upstairs. Gastelum cracks him back with a jab. Curtis lands a nasty uppercut as the round comes to a close.
Round 3
Chris Curtis kicks off the third with a nice knee to the body. Curtis throws a kick to the body. Straight left from Gastelum connects. Curtis closes the distance but is unable to land as Gastelum briefly ties up and separates. Curtis lands a glancing elbow before going upstairs with a head kick. Right hand by Curtis in close connects. Two big rights by Curtis encourage Gastelum to clinch against the fence, but he quickly breaks away. Curtis once again targets the body with a brutal knee. Gastelum once again ties up looking for a takedown, but quickly gives up on it. Short elbow by Curtis and ‘The Action Man’ begins to go on the attack with 30 seconds to go. A late shot from Gastelum fails as the bout comes to an end.
Official Result: Kelvin Gastelum def. Chris Curtis via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Check Out Highlights From Kelvin Gastelum vs. Chris Curtis at UFC 287 Below:
#UFC287 نظيفه pic.twitter.com/hNjnTxyRbm
— مرجاخ🥷🏻 (@UFCQ8) April 9, 2023
#UFC287 🔥 pic.twitter.com/U7S8odPuXy
— مرجاخ🥷🏻 (@UFCQ8) April 9, 2023
Kelvin Gastelum is beautiful to watch man. His left hand is so so nice. pic.twitter.com/ujVmK6OST9
— MartialMind 🇳🇬🇺🇲 (@MartialMind1) April 9, 2023
Unanimous for KG!!@KelvinGastelum takes the decision over Chris Curtis to close the #UFC287 Prelims 👏 pic.twitter.com/B7oQVtrYbc
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
There is NOBODY in Miami more fired up than @KelvinGastelum right now! 🗣 #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/HFsN7gpLqQ
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
Kelvin Gastelum (@KelvinGastelum) defeats Chris Curtis via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Kelvin is FIRED UP after a year and half away! He finally gets a win after 2+ years!
#UFC287 https://t.co/y0OID2IUW3
— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) April 9, 2023
