Gastelum moves up to middleweight, faces Marquardt at UFC 188

Kelvin Gastelum (10-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) is returning to the UFC’s middleweight division!

“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 17 winner had missed the welterweight limit of 170-pounds in two of his past three fights, prompting the decision.

In his return to middleweight, Gastelum will square off with former title challenger Nate Marquardt (33-14-2 MMA) at June’s UFC 188 event in Mexico City.

Gastelum is coming off the first loss of his career, which he suffered at the hands of Tyron Woodley via split-decision at January’s UFC 183 event. In that fight, Gastelum had missed weight by a remarkable 9-pounds. Prior to the setback, Gastelum defeated Jake Ellenberger via first-round submission at November’s UFC 180 event.

Meanwhile, Nate Marquardt returned to the UFC’s middleweight division in June of 2014, where he scored a first-round submission win over James Te Huna. The former Strikeforce welterweight champion was most recently seen in action at January’s UFC 182 event, where he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Brad Tavares. Nate “The Great” has gone 1-3 since rejoining the UFC in March of 2013.

UFC 188 takes place June 13 live from Mexico City Arena in Mexico. The main card will air on pay-per-view following the prelims which air on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

The event is headlined by a heavyweight title fight featuring champion Cain Velasquez taking on interim champ Fabricio Werdum.

Who do you have winning this middleweight tilt? Sound off Penn Nation!