Kelvin Gastelum returned to the octagon after a year and a half absence at UFC 287, where he faced off against Chris Curtis. Despite the risk of being knocked out of the middleweight rankings, the 31-year-old fighter ensured that this wasn’t the outcome. In a hard-fought battle, he emerged victorious via a unanimous decision against ‘The Action Man’ Curtis.

Following his impressive win, the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 17 posted a video on his YouTube channel to reflect on his comeback. During the video, the middleweight stalwart hinted at a rematch with the reigning divisional champion Israel Adesanya.

“I’m ready to take it to another level. I’m ready to go all the way this time. All the way to the belt.” He added, “Maybe a rematch with Izzy. Who knows? That’s the goal. Why not? You know what I mean. People want to see that fight. I want to be a champion. I’m not just saying that just to say it. I mean that. So, that’s what I’m working towards.”

However, it seems like Gastelum has taken a U-turn since making this major announcement. He appears to have changed his path drastically, opting for a different direction altogether.

Kelvin Gastelum exits the middleweight division

It appears that Kelvin Gastelum has had a change of heart and is now exploring other options. Despite his earlier excitement to snatch the UFC middleweight championship from ‘The Last Stylebender,’ the Californian fighter has now taken a drastic U-turn in his career direction.

In a recent development, the 31-year-old fighter retweeted a tweet from MMA writer Carlos Contreras Legaspi at ESPN, offering an update on his plans.

The tweet stated, “Kelvin Gastélum told us he is coming back to welterweight, UFC executives agreed with the move and he expects to get a fight in September.”

Read more: Controversial UFC Star Claims He Could Fight Kelvin Gastelum “Tomorrow”, Calls Him an “Easy Paycheck”

In a subsequent tweet, it is revealed that Gastelum will be teaming up with UFC President Dana White‘s nutritionist to facilitate this move.

After a successful comeback and an eye on the title, this move certainly came as a shocker. It remains to be seen how Gastelum performs in the welterweight division and whether he will be able to make a name for himself there.

What are your thoughts on this sudden move by Kelvin Gastelum? Let us know in the comments below.

Watch this story: Who Will Israel Adesanya Fight After UFC 287?