Kelvin Gastelum has long been a familiar name in the UFC, having fought the very best across the middleweight and welterweight divisions. However, this time, Kelvin Gastelum vs Dustin Stoltzfus is now confirmed.
After ups and downs in recent years, this fight against Dustin Stoltzfus represents both an opportunity to stabilize his career and a must-win scenario to remain relevant in the stacked middleweight picture.
Dustin Stoltzfus, meanwhile, is seeking a breakthrough. Known for his toughness and grappling skill set, he hasn’t yet managed to secure a big statement win inside the Octagon.
Beating a veteran like Gastelum could be the defining moment of his UFC career.
Kelvin Gastelum vs Dustin Stoltzfus: Fighter Profiles
Kelvin Gastelum
- Record: 18–9 professional.
- Style: Southpaw boxer-wrestler hybrid.
- Strengths: Powerful left hand, solid boxing fundamentals, takedown defense, and big-fight experience.
- Weaknesses: Inconsistency, a smaller frame for middleweight, and occasional defensive lapses.
Dustin Stoltzfus
- Record: 15–6 professional.
- Style: Grappling-oriented with decent striking tools.
- Strengths: Submission threat, scrappy pace, and resilience under pressure.
- Weaknesses: Vulnerable against strong strikers and elite-level competition.
Kelvin Gastelum vs Dustin Stoltzfus: Technical Breakdown
Striking
Gastelum’s hands are his bread and butter. He combines speed, power, and combinations, especially from the southpaw stance.
He is dangerous when closing the distance and throwing counters. Stoltzfus, while capable on the feet, is not as polished or powerful as Gastelum in striking exchanges.
Grappling and Wrestling
Gastelum has strong takedown defense and has historically been difficult to control on the mat.
Stoltzfus’s best chance lies in dragging Gastelum into grappling exchanges, where his submission arsenal could come into play. However, getting Gastelum to the canvas consistently will be a major challenge.
Cardio and Experience
Gastelum has gone five rounds multiple times against top-tier opponents, proving his durability.
Stoltzfus has shown heart, but hasn’t competed against the same caliber of fighters. Over three rounds, Gastelum’s experience advantage is significant.
Kelvin Gastelum vs Dustin Stoltzfus: Keys to Victory
Kelvin Gastelum
- Use boxing to establish dominance early.
- Keep distance and avoid unnecessary clinch exchanges.
- Push the pace to test Stoltzfus’s cardio under pressure.
Dustin Stoltzfus
- Close the distance and make it a grappling-heavy fight.
- Chain takedown attempts together to wear Gastelum down.
- Avoid extended striking battles where Gastelum’s power is decisive.
Kelvin Gastelum vs Dustin Stoltzfus: Prediction
This fight comes down to whether Stoltzfus can neutralize Gastelum’s boxing. While Stoltzfus has grit and grappling, Gastelum’s experience, striking power, and ability to stay upright make him the clear favorite.
Unless Stoltzfus secures early control on the ground, Gastelum likely dictates the fight.
Prediction: Kelvin Gastelum wins by second-round TKO, overwhelming Stoltzfus with striking combinations after defending early grappling attempts.
Quick Takeaways
- Gastelum: Powerful boxing, elite experience, and strong takedown defense.
- Stoltzfus: Grappling specialist with durability but less proven striking.
- Striker vs grappler matchup, but Gastelum’s defense likely nullifies Stoltzfus’s strength.
- Prediction favors Gastelum by TKO in the second round.
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