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Kelvin Gastelum will try to claw his way back into title contention as he takes on Jared Cannonier in the main event of UFC Vegas 34 this weekend. It will be Gastelum's sixth UFC headliner and his third outing in 2021.
Undoubtedly, the Arizona native will be out for redemption as he tries to get back into the win column. It's been several years since Gastelum had two consecutive victories. He snapped a three-fight skid against Ian Heinisch but fell on the wrong side of a unanimous decision against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in April.
At UFC Vegas 34, Gastelum is at a crossroads in his career. Winning convincingly against a top contender sets Gastelum up for another push for the title, while another defeat could send him further down the totem pole and away from being able to sniff a championship opportunity.
Needless to say, it's a make-or-break scenario for Gastelum come fight night. But before the 29-year-old fan favorite marches into the octagon again, let's dive into five facts that every UFC fan should know about Kelvin Gastelum.
#5. Kelvin Gastelum has been overlooked from the get-go
![Kelvin Gastelum [Photo via @kgastelum on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/08/7f7aa-16294546220790-800.jpg)
Kelvin Gastelum will enter UFC Vegas 34 as a slight betting underdog. His opponent, Jared Cannonier, is pegged as the -150 favorite, meaning oddsmakers believe Gastelum has a 43% chance of winning.
However, this is far from the first time Gastelum's abilities have been doubted. In fact, he was overlooked the first time he made an attempt to get into the UFC.
Gastelum's entry into the world's largest MMA promotion is through the reality competition show, The Ultimate Fighter. He joined the 17th season of the contest with Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen as the coaches.
Due to his unsuspecting looks and relatively small physique, Kelvin Gastelum was picked last. He ended up on Team Sonnen alongside the early favorite to win the entire season, Uriah Hall. But it didn't take long before he proved that he was the star of the season.
Gastelum showcased his superior grappling skills when he took on Bubba McDaniel in his first TUF fight. In the quarterfinals, he made quick work of Collin Hart, securing the TKO win in the first round. Gastelum then defeated Josh Samman via submission to book his ticket to the finale.
Despite dominating every opponent he came across in TUF, many believed that Gastelum would fall short against Hall, who fans had proclaimed as the next coming of Anderson Silva. Then again, Gastelum is not one to shy away from a challenge, and by the end of the night, he was the one who had his hand raised.
#4. Kelvin Gastelum was raised by a single mother
![Kelvin Gastelum and his mom [Photo via @kgastelum on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/08/d0469-16294612376553-800.jpg)
Kelvin Gastelum was born to Mexican-hailing immigrants in Yuma, Arizona. Having an absent father, it was Gastelum's mother who raised him. And of course, it was not easy.
Gastelum revealed that his mother worked three to four jobs to make ends meet. The veteran UFC middleweight revealed that his mom's work ethic is what inspired him to put as much effort into his fighting career as she did to support the family. In a previous interview with Fox News Latino, Gastelum said:
“My mom was a single mother, working three to four jobs. She would take a bunch of crazy, grimy jobs at first, then she got into the restaurant business. Then she started to manage restaurants. She was also a chef for a long time. She did a lot in the restaurant business.”
Today, Gastelum's mom has grown into a successful businesswoman. She has her own restaurant called El Campeon in their hometown of Yuma, which specializes in hotdogs and Mexican food.
#3 Kelvin Gastelum started fighting early in his life
Kelvin Gastelum was introduced to combat sports when he joined his high school's wrestling team. He immediately took a liking for the sport and won a Division III AIA state wrestling title for his alma mater, Cibola High School.
Having found success in the discipline, Gastelum continued wrestling at North Idaho College. As a member of the Cardinals wrestling team. Gastelum was ranked as high as fifth in the country (NJCAA) in his freshman year.
But after a year in college, he decided to quit in order to pursue a career path of mixed martial arts. Gastelum started training MMA at 17 years old and worked as a bail bondsman before going full-time as a prizefighter.
Determined to succeed in his chosen profession, Gastelum dominated the regional circuit before he finally caught a huge break. In 2012, he joined The Ultimate Fighter and became the youngest fighter to ever win the show at 21 years old.
#2. Kelvin Gastelum trains at Kings MMA
![Kelvin Gastelum with his Kings MMA teammates [Photo via @kgastelum on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2021/08/e8620-16294616163866-800.jpg)
Wrestling has always been Kelvin Gastelum's bread and butter. But he's not one to shy away from trading blows with the best of them.
Gastelum has tremendously improved as a striker since his UFC debut back in 2013. It's no surprise that his stand-up game has evolved to what it is today given that he trains under the tutelage of striking whiz Rafael Cordeiro at Kings MMA.
Cordeiro is credited with playing a huge part in the development of UFC legends Anderson Silva, Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua, Wanderlei Silva and Lyoto Machida.
Gastelum's improvement has turned him into one of the most exciting fighters to watch in the octagon. The 29-year-old currently holds three 'Fight of the Night' honors, which are a testament to his skills and penchant for putting on entertaining action every time he fights.
#1. Kelvin Gastelum was the toughest middleweight challenge for Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya has been one of the most dominant champions today. Undefeated in the middleweight division, 'The Last Stylebender' has outclassed every single challenger he's faced in the 185-pound weight class. Today, he continues to solidify his case as one of the greatest champions in the UFC.
However, Adesanya was pushed to the limit when he faced off against Kelvin Gastelum in 2019. The two combatants put on an absolute barnburner that featured everything a UFC fan could ever hope for. There were momentum shifts, contrasts in style, knockdowns and undeniable displays of grit and determination on both sides.
Heading into the fifth round, all three judges had scored the contest 38-38. With neither man feeling certain about the outcome, they gave it their all in what turned out to be one of the most intense final rounds in the UFC.
Gastelum appeared to have the momentum as he had Adesanya hurt in the final minute of round four. Gastelum wasted no time looking for a finish as he took on the role of aggressor and pursued Adesanya. But the Kiwi fighter displayed his composure as he was able to increase the volume of his strikes and attempt two submissions.
Ultimately, Adesanya walked away with a unanimous decision win, but not without having to work for it. Before the final round, Adesanya was even seen mouthing, "I'm prepared to die." To say that Gastelum gave Adesanya the toughest test of his middleweight career so far is a huge understatement.
