Weight issues in combat sports have always sparked heated debates, and Kelvin Gastelum’s latest weigh-in miss has pushed the conversation to the forefront once again. Former champion Daniel Cormier openly admitted that the situation was so concerning, they nearly canceled Gastelum’s post-fight interview altogether. That rare statement from Cormier highlights the seriousness of the matter.
The UFC Noche event was a huge success with seven fights ending in finishes. The main event featured an electrifying battle between Diego Lopes and Jean Silva as Lopes knocked the Fighting Nerd out with a spinning elbow. However, the undercard featured a middleweight bout between Gastelum and Dustin Stoltzfus, which ended in a unanimous decision victory for the San Jose native.
Gastelum had accepted the fight on four weeks’ notice and came in five pounds over the 186lbs limit. While he was allowed to fight, the UFC penalized him and cut 35 percent off his fight purse. The weight miss was heavily criticized by the MMA community. Cormier, who was on commentating duties recently, gave his thoughts on Gastelum’s weight miss and Stoltzfus’s hardships coming into the fight.
I watched him beat Dustin Stoltzfus, who if you truly knew his story and all he’s dealing with, to go out there and fight a guy that heavy it’s unfair. I don’t know how to judge Gastelum.
Daniel Cormier via YouTube
Cormier took to YouTube and described what unfolded after Gastelum’s win. In a rare admission, he revealed that the production team nearly pulled the plug on the post-fight interview altogether because of how bad the weight situation was. For a UFC Hall of Famer and current commentator to make that public shows just how serious the violation appeared to those calling the event live.
Honestly, it was so bad we thought about not doing the interview. You should feel something negative whenever you don’t make weight or show up like that. I get it: he took the fight on four weeks notice, but that’s a month to get ready.
Daniel Cormier via YouTube
🎤😨 Daniel Cormier says Kelvin Gastelum’s weight miss was so bad they almost skipped the post-fight interview:
“I watched him beat Dustin Stoltzfus, who if you truly knew his story and all he’s dealing with, to go out there and fight a guy that heavy—it’s unfair. I don’t know… pic.twitter.com/DJwPPZFlGo
Gastelum’s weight issues are not a new storyline in his career, and that’s part of what makes this latest incident so damaging to his reputation. While he has never missed weight in the middleweight division, the UFC Noche event marked his fifth career weight miss. Over the years, Gastelum has missed weight multiple times at welterweight, which has resulted in bouts being shifted to a catchweight.
UFC CEO Dana Whitehimself once declared that ‘KG’ could no longer compete at 170 pounds after repeated weight failures following the UFC Saudi Arabia event. Stoltzfus came into the fight carrying a heavy load from lingering nerve damage and facial injuries to the lasting effects of COVID-19, and the mental strain of early UFC setbacks.
The pressure of inconsistent performances and lengthy layoffs made it clear why Cormier stressed how unfair it was for him to face a heavier opponent in Gastelum. By framing Stoltzfus’s story against Gastelum’s weight miss, he reminded fans and the organization alike that there’s more at stake than a single result.
Fans react to Daniel Cormier’s comments regarding Kelvin Gastelum’s weight miss at UFC Noche
Controversies around weight cutting are nothing new in MMA, but every time they resurface, fans are quick to voice strong opinions. The latest incident involving Kelvin Gastelum’s weight miss against Dustin Stoltzfus was no different, sparking debates about fairness, fighter safety, and the UFC’s handling of repeat offenders.
Kelvin Gastelum (via MMA Fighting)
Some fans immediately echoed Daniel Cormier’s concerns, calling Gastelum’s latest miss “unprofessional” and unfair to Stoltzfus. Many pointed out that Stoltzfus, who has battled injuries and health issues to stay in the UFC, deserved a level playing field.
In fact, very few fans sided with Cormier on this matter. Instead, many pointed straight back to his own history, arguing that after the infamous “towel trick” at UFC 210, he had no right to criticize anyone about weight. Here are some fan reactions to Daniel Cormier’s comments regarding Gastelum’s weight miss:
DC cheated to make weight. Sit this one out, homie.
Just fyi, Dustin made more money losing than he would have even if he won. The guy is like 3-6 in the ufc or something, he isn’t fighting for the title ever, at least he got his biggest payday
He uses his post-fight interviews to apologize to his opponents, the UFC, and the fans, anyway. What's funny is he stopped promising to not miss weight next time.
Stoltzfus might be going through some stuff, but I'm sure that extra 35% will help soften the loss.
A different section of fans focused on Gastelum himself, highlighting his long history of missing weight and questioning why the UFC continues to overlook it. They voiced frustration that repeat offenders face only fines, while opponents bear the physical risk.
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