Gastelum vs. Kennedy is Finally Set for UFC 206
By: James Messer, Real Combat Media MMA Correspondent
Las Vegas, NV (December 1st, 2016)– Tim Kennedy (18-5-0) and Kelvin Gastelum (12-2-0) are scheduled to fight on Dec. 10 in Toronto. It will take place at UFC 206 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, as part of UFC efforts to popularize their brand in Canada. The fight has been in the making for a long time now, but it was finally officially confirmed when Gastelum suspension by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) was lifted. Here is a look at the winding road that led to these two finally being cleared to fight.
Kennedy Was Supposed to Fight Rashad Evans
Gastelum is stepping in for Evans against Kennedy. Evans was supposed to fight Kennedy both at UFC 205 and UFC 206, but each time he was forced to back out due to medical issues. Gastelum is the replacement for Evans, and it was announced that he would fight Kennedy even though he was still suspended by the NYSAC.
Skipping a Weigh-In Led to Gastelum Suspension
The reason that Gastelum was suspended by the NYSAC was because he failed to show up for his weigh-in for UFC 205. Gastelum was scheduled to fight Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 205. Gastelum knew that he would be unable to make his weight, which led to him just skipping the weigh-in. That was a bad mistake by Gastelum as it led to a six-month suspension by the NYSAC.
Even though the suspension was in New York, being suspended in one state can keep you from fighting in other states or even other countries. Such was the case for Gastelum. If he would have been unable to get the NYSAC to drop his suspension, Gastelum would have been unable to fight at UFC 206.
Fortunately for Gastelum, the NYSAC was reasonable. Instead of making him serve the entire suspension, they let him off very easily. In the end, Gastelum only had to pay a $2,000 fine to get his suspension lifted by the NYSAC. Once this was accomplished, the fight between Kennedy and Gastelum at UFC 206 was officially confirmed.
Fight Will Take Place at Middleweight
Trouble making weight at welterweight is nothing new for Gastelum. He has a long history of issues making weight at 170 pounds, failing to make weight four times in the welterweight division. Skipping the weigh-in at UFC was the final straw for the UFC. They have banned Gastelum from fighting at welterweight anymore. He has been bumped up to the 185-pound middleweight division, which is where is the weight the bout between Kennedy and Evans will take place at.
Long Layoffs
Another interesting thing to note is that neither fighter has stepped inside the Octagon for quite some time. Gastelum has not fought since his win over Johny Hendricks last July at UFC 200. As for Kennedy, he has not fought since losing by TKO to Yoel Romero way back in 2014.
With two fighters who have not been in the ring for a while, anything could happen in this fight. They both need a win. Both will be hungry to prove that they are back, and it should make for an entertaining matchup.
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