UFC: Kelvin Gastelum has no regrets over trolling champ Robert Whittaker
American UFC star Kelvin Gastelum has no regrets about declaring himself the "real middleweight champ" as Robert Whittaker lay in hospital undergoing emergency surgery.
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American UFC star Kelvin Gastelum has no regrets about declaring himself the "real middleweight champ" as Robert Whittaker lay in hospital undergoing emergency surgery, convinced the stunt will eventually get him his showdown with Australia's most dangerous man.
Only nine weeks after his title bout with Whittaker was scrapped, Gastelum now faces New Zealand prodigy Israel Adesanya at UFC 236 in Atlanta, Sunday.
Apart from fighting for the interim middleweight belt, the winner will also be catapulted into a title blockbuster with 28-year-old Whittaker, most likely in August.
And speaking with The Saturday Telegraph this week, Gastelum suggested none of this may be happening had he not opted for those contentious antics at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena back in February.
With Whittaker rushed to hospital on the morning of UFC 234 with a twisted bowel, Gastelum not only arrived at the arena parading a faux UFC belt, but then announced himself winner by forfeit declaring: "I showed up to fight, I'm the champion".
The American also sat front row for the amended headliner between Adesanya and Brazilian legend Anderson Silva, belt slung over his shoulder as some 15,000 fans chanted "Kelvin's a wanker …".
"And I don't regret that," Gastelum said of playing the heel. "I know it was all a little out of character for me.
“But I had to do some trolling.
"My goal that Sunday morning was to make some noise. And considering I even had Conor McGregor tweeting at me about wearing the belt, you can say I achieved it."
Asked if he feared a strong showing from Adesanya would have seen him disappear from the title conversation altogether, the Californian native continued: "That was exactly my thought process.
"My concern was that Israel goes into the Octagon, does something amazing against Anderson Silva and everyone forgets about me. Forgets about my shot.
"And I wasn't about to be skipped over."
But as for having to sit through 15,000 Aussies chanting "Kelvin's a wanker"?
"I knew there would be backlash," he laughed. "But over the years I've learned people will always say what they want anyway.
"You could be in Africa saving children and people would still find a way to criticise you.
"I've learned to embrace it."
Better, Gastelum also used his front row seat to pick holes in the fight style of Adesanya, who scored a decision win over the ageing Brazilian great.
"I certainly saw some things in Israel's game I can exploit," the American said. "And his pop, it wasn't there like I thought it would be.
"His punches weren't powerful.
"Even when Anderson was hit flush on the chin, he encouraged Israel to keep punching him. I feel like if that was me punching (Silva), he would've dropped like a sack of potatoes."
Originally published as UFC: Kelvin Gastelum has no regrets over trolling champ Robert Whittaker
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