Kelvin Gastelum Says Michael Bisping is a “Badass” For Taking Short-Notice Fight

Kelvin Gastelum spoke with MMAjunkie ahead of his fight with Michael Bisping at UFC 122 this weekend. Highlights are below:

On Bisping stepping in to replace Anderson Silva: “I didn’t want to go from fighting the greatest of all time to just fighting Joe Schmoe – that just wouldn’t make sense for me, for my career. I want to keep making steps forward, not making steps backward. … I was really happy we got a replacement. I was really happy that Mike stepped up – how badass is he? I feel this is actually an even bigger fight for my career.”

On Bisping getting all the attention for taking the short-notice fight: “It doesn’t matter to me, but it would be cool if I got a little bit of credit, too, for stepping up and accepting the fight. This will be my third or fourth former champion that I’ve fought in the last 12 months. I don’t think people have been giving me credit for the fights I’ve been taking in the last 12 months. This will be my third main event in a row. (But) I’m just riding the wave.”

On his loss to Tyron Woodley at UFC 183: “I’m a little bit salty on the Tyron Woodley fight. I’m a little hurt, still, after all these years. I want that rematch. I know I can beat him. And I know I can make the weight. I was immature, I was young, and stupid, and I feel I’ve grown from all those experiences. There’s been a lot of trial and error in my career. When I fought him, I was 23 years old. Finally, we’re putting all the experiences togehter, the good, the bad, and making something that actually works.”

On a possible title shot against Woodley: “I’ve got to be up there in those discussions (with a win), whether I fight for the middleweight title or the welterweight title. I’ve always had my eyes set on that welterweight title and a rematch with Tyron. (But) if I win this fight, I might have permanently cemented myself as a middleweight whether I want it or not…It has to be for the title, and now that he’s the champion, I want to take it from him. But let me just say I respect Tyron. As a person, as a fighter, I respect him. It’s just (the loss) doesn’t sit (with me) well.”