How old was Kelvin Gastelum when he won TUF? Revisiting the middleweight early UFC days

Kelvin Gastelum has been a steadfast presence in the UFC, consistently competing in the organization for more than a decade. Gastelum is preparing to make his 23rd appearance in the octagon against Daniel Rodriguez in a welterweight matchup scheduled on the main card of UFC Saudi Arabia. The Fight Night event is slated for this Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

The 32-year-old Californian has participated in numerous memorable fights, including his unforgettable back-and-forth interim middleweight showdown with Israel Adesanya at UFC 236 in April 2019.

However, few know that Gastelum is an alumnus of 'The Ultimate Fighter' (TUF) and holds the distinction of being the youngest fighter to secure a UFC contract through the MMA promotion's reality TV-style competition.

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How old was Kelvin Gastelum when he won TUF?

Kelvin Gastelum was featured on the 17th edition of TUF, where he competed as a member of Team Sonnen against Team Jones. The season premiered in January 2013.

Gastelum defeated Kito Andrews by decision to advance in the competition. However, his performance was deemed average, leading to it being condensed to make room for the numerous knockouts and submissions in the other 13 qualifying bouts.

Throughout the show, Gastelum consistently triumphed, progressing to the semi-finals, where he secured a first-round submission victory over Josh Samman, earning his spot in the season's finale.

The UFC stalwart faced off against his teammate Uriah Hall in a surprising final matchup in April 2013 after both persevered through the tournament structure of TUF 17. Despite Hall being the favored contender at 3-to-1 odds, it was Gastelum who emerged victorious, securing a six-figure UFC contract and a customized Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Gastelum brought the fight to Hall and narrowly defeated him in a split decision with scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 28-29, making him the youngest winner in TUF history at the age of 21 at that time.

The middle bout was filled with action from the start. Both fighters engaged in striking exchanges, with Gastelum securing two takedowns within the first five minutes. In the second round, 'Prime Time' shifted momentum by using his jab effectively and launching attacks aimed at Gastelum's lower body. Hall also executed two takedowns of his own during this round.

The third round proved decisive: despite Hall landing more significant strikes and outstriking his opponent overall, Gastelum's two takedowns and dominant ground control in the final 75 seconds likely secured his victory.