Mike Dolce believes Kelvin Gastelum should cut to lightweight
MEXICO CITY -- Kelvin Gastelum and Mike Dolce don't appear to see eye to eye when it comes to the weight-cutting process.
Dolce, a noted MMA nutrition and diet guru, worked with Gastelum before his debut at welterweight in August 2013. Gastelum stopped using Dolce thereafter and has struggled to make 170 pounds. He got there on his second try at UFC 171 in March and missed weight in June, coming in at 172.75.
Gastelum meets Jake Ellenberger at UFC 180 here at Arena Ciudad de Mexico on Saturday night. He said there should be no issues Friday when he hits the scales.
"I'm gonna clear all those questions out of everybody's mind," Gastelum told FOX Sports. "I feel fantastic."
Dolce is here in Mexico, too, but not for Gastelum. Dolce told FOX Sports that Gastelum's team contacted him to work with Gastelum during this training camp, but it was too far along in the process. Plus, Dolce has obligations as the face of UFC Fit and didn't want to be on the other side of the Octagon from Ellenberger, a long time friend.
Still, Dolce does remain concerned about Gastelum, who he said he is open to working with in the future. The trainer believes Gastelum gains too much weight when he isn't in training camp and doesn't give himself enough time to cut when things get going.
"He needs to show more discipline in the offseason," Dolce said. "Once he does that I think he'll be an amazing welterweight. But honestly, I truly believe Kelvin should really be a lightweight."
Dolce bases that assessment on Gastelum's frame, lean mass ratio and body-fat percentage. Gastelum did compete on The Ultimate Fighter 17 as a middleweight, but Dolce thinks his natural weight would actually be 155. He compares him more to his client Nik Lentz, a featherweight, than Johny Hendricks, Dolce's client who is the UFC welterweight champion.
"Kelvin gets really far out of shape and it's hard for him to pull it back together," Dolce said. "I think he strays from his diet and starts his weight cut too close to the fight. He doesn't give himself enough time. … I think if he gains some professional maturity, he'll grown into that [welterweight] division."
Gastelum (9-0), ranked No. 11 among welterweight contenders and one of MMA's brightest prospects, doesn't agree. The 23-year-old doesn't think there is any way he could make lightweight with his body type.
"Not unless I cut off my leg I couldn’t be a lightweight," Gastelum said. "I don’t think so. I'm already a pretty big welterweight. I can't imagine going down to 155."
Perhaps the two will work together again one day. Or maybe Gastelum will prove to everyone he doesn't need Dolce by coming in at 171 or less Friday. Either way, Gastelum, a Mexican American, has been amazed by the incredible fan support this week by the fans here. This is the biggest fight of his life for multiple reasons.
"I feel no pressure at all," Gastelum said. "This is the best I've felt before a fight."
