Kelvin Gastelum thinks opponent Donald Cerrone would have beat Robbie Lawler at UFC 205

NEW YORK – UFC welterweight standout Kelvin Gastelum admits Donald Cerrone has looked pretty impressive since moving up from the lightweight class.

“I think he could become world champ,” Gastelum told MMAjunkie at a media day for UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden in New York. “I think if he would have fought Robbie, he would have beat him.”

But Cerrone (31-7 MMA, 18-4 UFC), No. 14 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, isn’t fighting Lawler. Instead, he’s fighting No. 15 Gastelum, which is where the winner of “The Ultimate Fighter 17” sees things going south for “Cowboy.”

“Now, he has a problem, and that problem is me,” Gastelum (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) said.

With a move to Southern California and Kings MMA, Gastelum feels ready to deliver an upset on the surging Cerrone, who has won three straight since his move and is a slight betting favorite to win.

The 25-year-old “TUF” winner attributed his turnaround to work with renowned coach Rafael Cordeiro, the mind behind Chute Boxe and Kings MMA. Gastelum said previously he was simply going into the cage and fighting, but now he has more knowledge of how to fight.

A recent decision over ex-champ Johny Hendricks certainly suggests he’s turning a corner.

“Right now, I’m a young, hungry lion in search of that title shot,” Gastelum said. “Nobody is going to be able to beat me.”

If he beats Cerrone, Gastelum hopes the UFC will “put two and two together” and pair him with the winner of UFC 205’s co-headliner between champ Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson.

But that’s just another what-if, and Gastelum’s first order of business is to give Cerrone a little taste of reality.

Check out the above video to hear Gastelum on his fight with Cerrone and the title co-headliner.

For more on UFC 205, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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