Long before he fights in UFC Mexico, Kelvin Gastelum was the last participant to be picked at 'The Ultimate Fighter'.
The reality TV program 'The Ultimate Fighter' of the UFC has been around since 2005, spread over 33 seasons (and counting). Many hunters, regardless of whether they have won or lost in the show, continued to win UFC titles such as Brandon Moreno of Mexico, who, like Gastelum, was the last seed in his season.
The 33-year-old Kelvin Gastelum may not have won a world championship yet, with Israel Adesanya 'prepared to die' in their interim-title fight 2019, but the UFC mid-weight won season 17 of 'The Ultimate Fighter' of the heaviest gloves in sport.
Gastelum, at the time a bail federal man in 2012, was the youngest hunter who once entered the 'Tuf' house at the age of 21. He was coach Chael Sonnen's last choice of 14 participants.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Kelvin Gastelum's last 'Tuf' opponent Uriah Hall had a frightening KO power
On 'Tuf 17' Gastelum won four fights in a matter of six weeks.
After fighting for a decision to secure his place in the show, Gastelum such as Bubba McDaniel, Collin Hart and Josh Samman, all ended in two rounds or less.
Gastelum had 5 pro fights before he participated in the show.
On the other side of the middleweight bracket was perhaps the most threatening hunter in the history of the reality -TV show: Knock -out artist Uriah Hall.
Hall turned the cast from TUF 17 into its personal highlight reel. In his second fight, the striker pulled a brutal walk-off Ko and sleeped Adam Cella with a rotating hook kick in the opening round.
“Sorry Adam,” Hall said because it took a while before Cella wins the consciousness.
Hall won his next fight with a knockout of 8 seconds and later broke to the final with a second round knockout from Dylan Andrews.
Gastelum entered 'The Ultimate Fighter' final on 13 April 2013 as an underdog of 3 to 1 against the highly recommended Uriah Hall.
“Uriah Hall, Uriah Hall, Uriah Hall … Kelvin has been the dark horse in this thing,” said Dana White about the final.
“He has that one-punch knockout [power] And he can dominate boys on the floor, “said White about Gastelum.” I can't tell you the last time that I have been so enthusiastic for the final. '
'Dark Horse' Kelvin Gastelum attracts insane upset at 21 years old
Against all the expectations, the Gastelum who finally came to Hall was at the top.
Gastelum pushed a pace on Hall with both his striking and wrestling and scored more than 6 minutes of control time on three Takedown attempts.
After three rounds of back and forth action and their total strike is even covered at 81, Gastelum earned the split decision from the jury members to win 'the Ultimate Fighter 17'.
Gastelum was the youngest hunter in the UFC history to win the show after the age of 21, a record that he still holds today, more than 10 years later.
Kelvin Gastelum returns this weekend on the main map of UFC Mexico City, where he hires another hunter known for his Ko -Wicht, Joe Pyfer.
Gastelum's UFC CV includes victories over Michael Bisping, Jacare Souza, Johny Hendricks, Daniel Rodriguez and more.
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