Chris Curtis issues statement after loss against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 287, feels he won the fight
Chris Curtis and Kelvin Gastelum battled to a fight-of-the-night showing. They put on a memorable display for the fans, but 'The Action Man' believes he did enough to win and only came up short on the scorecards due to an unfortunate incident.
UFC 287 was stacked with entertaining matchups and blockbuster names, but the two middleweights stole the show in their three-round war. Aside from Israel Adesanya's iconic knockout and Jorge Masvidal seemingly announcing his retirement, the 185lb clash between the powerhouses was the moment to watch.
In a rant on social media following the decision, Chris Curtis expressed frustration at the judges' decision to hand Kelvin Gastelum the win. He claimed that an accidental headbutt in the fight cost him the win:
"I thought I won, the numbers back it up. Tough fight and good for Kelvin Gastelum, but that headbutt cost me the fight on optics. Even with it happening, I still managed to tie the round on strikes. That sucks... That really f***ing sucks... Looks like I'll be heading home to lick my wounds for a while and figure out what comes next. As always, thank you to the UFC and Mick Maynard for giving me the chance to shine under those lights. It's all I ever wanted and everything I dreamed of."
I thought I won, the numbers back it it. Tough fight and good for KG, but that headbutt cost me the fight on optics. Even with it happening, I still managed to tie the round on strikes. That sucks... that really fucking sucks. https://t.co/YfYbfZNvyl
Looks like I'll be heading home to lick my wounds for a while and figure out what comes next. As always, thank you to the @ufc and @Mickmaynard2 for giving me the chance to shine under those lights. It's all I ever wanted and everything I dreamed of.
All three judges scored the fight in Kelvin Gastelum's favor, with two of those believing Chris Curtis only won a single round. This was the 35-year-old's second loss in three outings, leaving his future as a ranked competitor in jeopardy.
Kelvin Gastelum's next fight: Who's available for the UFC veteran?
While it's too early to say when Kelvin Gastelum will return to the octagon and who against, there are a number of fighters without a fight that arguably makes sense for the UFC veteran.
After cementing himself in the top 15 with a win over No.14-ranked Curtis, the NJCAA wrestler will have his eyes on making his way towards the top of the division with a potential future title surge.
Earlier this year, Gastelum was scheduled to compete against Nassourdine Imavov, but the fight, unfortunately, fell through. With the Frenchman ranked higher and both now without a fight, it could be the perfect time to re-book the matchup.
Another potential clash for the 31-year-old would be Sean Strickland. Although the controversial middleweight is likely ranked too high at #7, it would make for a good story as he seeks revenge for his teammate Chris Curtis.