Xuenou > Featured > UFC 287 Prelims: Kelvin Gastelum Outduels Chris Curtis in Middleweight Slugfest
UFC 287 Prelims: Kelvin Gastelum Outduels Chris Curtis in Middleweight Slugfest
UFC 287 Prelims: Kelvin Gastelum Outduels Chris Curtis in Middleweight Slugfest,Kelvin Gastelum needed a win in the worst way possible, and Chris Curtis made him go through heavy fire to earn it. “The Ultimate Fighter 17” winner went toe-to-toe with Curtis for three entertaining rounds, earning a unanimous decision triumph in the featured UFC 287 prelim at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on Saturday night.

UFC 287 Prelims: Kelvin Gastelum Outduels Chris Curtis in Middleweight Slugfest

WHAT AFIGHT TO END THE PRELIMS AT #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/mJEdGcKA5k— ESPN MMA(@espnmma) April 9, 2023KelvinGastelum needed a win in the worst way possible, and ChrisCurtis made him go through heavy fire to earn it.“The Ultimate Fighter 17” winner went toe-to-toe with Curtis forthree entertaining rounds, earning a unanimous decision triumph inthe featured UFC 287prelim at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on Saturday night.Gastelum, who had lost five of his previous six promotionalappearances, received scorecards of 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 from thecageside judges.

Related » UFC 287 Round-by-Round Scoring

Both middleweights traded willingly for the duration of thecontest. Gastelum (18-8, 12-8 UFC) enjoyed success landing quickpunching combinations to the head — opening a cut over Curtis’ eyein the process — and low kicks. Curtis (30-10, 4-2 UFC), meanwhile,stood in the pocket and fired back, doing some of his best workdigging to the body of his opponent. Curtis also had to weather anaccidental clash of heads in Round 2, which led to Gastelumswarming with ground-and-pound in hopes of a finish. Curtis kepthis head and did his best work of the fight in Round 3, as he uppedhis volume with punching combinations while adding the occasionalelbow and knee to the body in close quarters. It wasn’t enough toovercome the lead Gastelum had already built on the scorecards,however.

Pinheiro Edges Waterson-Gomez

Nova Unia export LuanaPinheiro secured her most significant triumph to date with asplit-decision victory over former Invicta FC atomweight titleholder MichelleWaterson-Gomez in a strawweight showdown. Chris Lee andEliseo Rodriguez scored the contest 29-28 for the Brazilian, whileEricColon had it 29-28 in favor of “The Karate Hottie.”Waterson-Gomez (18-11, 6-7 UFC) has lost five of her last six UFCappearances.Pinheiro (11-1, 3-0 UFC) attacked with a steady diet of low kicksand powerful right hands, rocking Waterson-Gomez with one rightduring an exchange in the second stanza. Waterson-Gomez kept thingsinteresting throughout with a varied striking attack, including aspinning back elbow to the chin and a front kick that sat Pinheirodown during an impressive opening stanza. Still, Pinheiro’s abilityto land with superior power during exchanges likely made thedifference on the scorecards.

Pyfer Rocks Meerschaert

It’s still good to be JosephPyfer.The Dana White’s Contender Series alum secured his fourth straightKO/TKO triumph, as he finished Kill Cliff FC product GeraldMeerschaert with punches in a middleweight pairing. Pyferdropped his foe with a left hook-right hand combination and