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Kelvin Gastelum

Kelvin Gastelum is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC’s middleweight division.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Kelvin Gastelum is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC’s middleweight division. He won The Ultimate Fighter 17 in 2013 and has also competed at welterweight. He is known for his southpaw stance, wrestling background, and long UFC career.

Early life and background

Kelvin Gastelum was born in San Jose, California, in 1991 and grew up in Yuma, Arizona. His background in wrestling formed the base for his transition into mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career

Gastelum began his professional MMA career in 2010 and rose to prominence by winning The Ultimate Fighter 17 in 2013. He has fought in the UFC at both welterweight and middleweight.

Fighting style

Gastelum is a southpaw with a wrestling foundation and has also developed striking and submission skills. His listed reach and compact frame have been consistent features of his profile across major MMA databases.

Record and notable results

Public MMA databases and UFC stats list Gastelum with a career record in the low 20s in wins and around 10 or 11 losses, depending on the date of update. Recent results in 2024 and 2026 are reflected differently across sources, so the record should be treated as time-sensitive.

Key facts

  • Gastelum won The Ultimate Fighter 17, which earned him a UFC contract.
  • He has competed in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions.
  • ESPN lists his height as 5 ft 9 in and his reach as 71 in.
  • He fights southpaw and is associated with Fight Ready and Yuma United MMA in recent profiles.
  • UFC records and MMA databases list him as a long-tenured UFC fighter with more than 20 professional wins.
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Canadian context

Kelvin Gastelum has fought on major North American MMA cards watched by Canadian audiences, but he does not have a specific Canadian nationality or Canada-based affiliation in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Kelvin Gastelum?
Kelvin Gastelum is an American UFC mixed martial artist who competes primarily at middleweight and won The Ultimate Fighter 17.
What is Kelvin Gastelum’s nationality?
He is American.
What division does Kelvin Gastelum fight in?
He has competed at welterweight and middleweight, and recent profiles list him at middleweight.
When was Kelvin Gastelum born?
He was born on October 24, 1991.
What is Kelvin Gastelum known for?
He is known for winning The Ultimate Fighter 17 and for his long UFC career with a wrestling-based style.

References

  1. UFC — https://www.ufc.com/athlete/kelvin-gastelum
    Supports: Winner of The Ultimate Fighter 17; professional since 2010; UFC career notes and fighting statistics.
  2. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/3026011/kelvin-gastelum
    Supports: Birthdate, nationality, division, height, weight, stance, reach, and team.
  3. UFC Stats — https://ufcstats.com/fighter-details/8c0580d4fff106c1
    Supports: Official UFC fighter measurements and record listing.
  4. Tapology — https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/41355-kelvin-gastelum
    Supports: Professional record, birthplace, fighting out location, and physical stats.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelvin_Gastelum
    Supports: Birthplace, career start, division history, and background information.