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14th February 2017
04:06pm GMT

Immediately after getting his first victory on the biggest stage in the sport, Gastelum dropped down to welterweight.
After racking up four-straight wins, he suffered his first ever loss against future champion Tyron Woodley. On that occasion, it was Gastelum who was on the losing side of a split decision.
The bout against T-Wood was a catchweight contest set at 180 lb, because of Gastelum's inability to make weight for the second time in his UFC career. The first time he tipped the scales over the limit came against Nico Musoke, where he weighed in at 172.75 lb.
Gastelum was forced to forfeit 30% of his purse to Woodley and ordered to move up to middleweight, but Woodley very soundly returned the money. He was given a tall task for his middleweight return - former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt.
Still billed as a welterweight, Gastelum starched Marquardt in the second round and was given the go-ahead to give 170 lbs a second crack.
He lost a split decision to Neil Magny before scoring a dominant unanimous decision over former champion Johny Hendricks, but was forced back to middleweight again when he failed to show up to the UFC 205 weigh-ins due to cutting issues. His scheduled main card bout against fan-favourite Donald Cerrone was scrapped entirely.
His next task, to welcome perpetual contender Tim Kennedy back to the UFC after a long lay-off at UFC 206.
Gastelum arguably never looked better than he did against the Green Beret who has current king Michael Bisping's scalp on his record.
His cardio was excellent, his wrestling was incredible and on the feet, he looked like Anderson Silva in his prime. He overwhelmed Kennedy throughout the fight, finishing him via TKO in the third round in what would be Kennedy's retirement fight. Suddenly, a man who everyone had been backing to be a future welterweight champion looked like a genuine middleweight contender.
He takes on former champion Vitor Belfort in his next rip to the Octagon and judging by a recent post on Twitter, he's fully committed to his new weight class.
Watch this space.
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