Kelvin Gastelum vs. Dustin Stoltzfus prediction, pick, start time for Noche UFC

Dan Tom
| MMA Junkie

Kelvin Gastelum and Dustin Stoltzfus meet on the main card of UFC Fight Night 259 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.

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Kelvin Gastelum vs. Dustin Stoltzfus Noche UFC preview

Gastelum (19-10 MMA, 13-10 UFC) has traded wins and losses over his past four outings, and enters this matchup after a unanimous decision loss to Joe Pyfer at UFC 316. Questions about Gastelum’s motivation arose after he missed weight by five pounds, as he could be entering the final fight of his lengthy UFC tenure. Stoltzfus (16-7 MMA 3-6 UFC) has also been on a trend of mixed results, trading wins and losses over his past six. He enters this fight after a May decision loss to Nursulton Ruziboev, which came after a first-round stoppage of Marc-Andre Barriault in November.

Kelvin Gastelum vs. Dustin Stoltzfus UFC expert pick, prediction

Filling out the main card is a middleweight matchup between Kelvin Gastelum and Dustin Stoltzfus.

Despite Gastelum missing weight once again, this fight will still go forward with Stoltzfus receiving 35 percent of his opponent’s purse.

Stoltzfus, who officially stands at 1-2 opposite UFC-level southpaws, has made steady improvements and produced results that arguably certify him as a live dog in the division. Although I won’t be officially siding with him here, this certainly feels like a dog-or-pass situation.

Gastelum should be able to either outpoint Stoltzfus on the feet or put him away with a 1-2 down the pike, but Stoltzfus has the dogged nature and skills to make things ugly if Gastelum gets lackadaisical in the grappling department.

I’ll reluctantly pick Gastelum to edge out another tight decision, but I don’t blame anyone for taking a stab at the underdog in this spot.