‘TUF 17’ winner Kelvin Gastelum recovering, wants Rick Story fight

“The Ultimate Fighter 17? winner Kelvin Gastelum is already back in the gym after suffering a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury that forced him to withdraw from a recent bout.

“The doctor cleared me to start training,” the welterweight said backstage at this past Saturday’s UFC 168 event. “I’m hungry. I’m ready, and I’m waiting for (UFC matchmaker) Joe (Silva) to give me a call back and see what he’s got for me.”

Gastelum (7-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who bowed out of a fight with “TUF 11? winner Court McGee (16-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) at UFC on FOX 9 earlier this month, kick-started the matchmaking process by volunteering to face Carlos Condit (29-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) at March’s title eliminator at UFC 171. But the opportunity went to squeaky wheel Tyrone Woodley (12-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC).

Now, Gastelum wants to fight longtime standout Rick Story (16-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC), who in November earned a decision win over Brian Ebersole (50-16-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC). Gastelum said he and Story trained together in Montreal, though there is no bad blood.

“I have nothing against him, but I think that fight is probably the fight that makes sense for me right now,” he said. “Everybody that’s close to me in the rankings is either booked or coming off a loss, so I think this fight … could catapult me up the welterweight ranks.”

This year has been good to Gastelum, who swept the reality-show tournament and upset season favorite Uriah Hall to win “TUF 17.” He followed it all up with a first-round submission win over Brian Melancon at UFC Fight Night 26, which extended his unbeaten stream to seven pro bouts.

Check out what Gastelum has to say about his recovery, next fight, Hall and more in the above video.