UFC Sacramento: Kelvin Gastelum criticizes ‘jokes’ in face-offs and recalls the seriousness of the sport By Carolina Costa
3 min read
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Fighter Kelvin Gastelum expressed strong disapproval of the comedic confrontations that took place at UFC Sacramento, held on August 22, 2026. The athlete, known for his career in the middleweight division, expressed the view that mixed martial arts (MMA) should be taken with the utmost seriousness, with no room for theatrics that distort the essence of combat. His criticism came after a ceremonial weigh-in that featured unusual moments that sparked debate among fans and competitors.
The Staring Controversy Between Jackson McVey and Wes Schultz
One of the episodes that caught the most attention was the visual confrontation between Jackson McVey and Wes Schultz. The two fighters, who would face each other in the second fight of the night in the middleweight category, replicated the famous Spider-Man meme, where they both point at each other, in reference to the physical similarity between them. The joke divided opinions: while part of the public found the situation amusing, others, like Gastelum, considered the attitude inappropriate for the sport. This would be the second meeting between them, with Schultz having won the first by submission in just 41 seconds, in 2020.
Kelvin Gastelum defends the importance of seriousness in MMA
Former interim middleweight title challenger Kelvin Gastelum used social media to express his outrage. He argued that, although MMA has evolved a lot, “in the past, we had real fights, where you felt and saw the amazement on each fighter’s face, something that would melt a tank.” For Gastelum, fighting at the highest level is no joke and should not be seen as such, as “the lessons to be learned will be difficult for these two.” His speech, however, also generated criticism from some fans, who defend the athletes’ freedom of expression and the entertainment aspect of the event.
Other peculiarities were seen at the UFC ceremonial weigh-in
Jackson McVey and Wes Schultz weren’t the only ones to present unusual moments at the UFC Sacramento weigh-ins. Brazilian fighter Marcio Barbosa also stood out when he took to the stage with replicas of the Incredible Hulk’s hands painted silver. Barbosa is scheduled to face Ryan Kuse in a featherweight fight, which will take place in the event’s preliminaries. These moments, although they cause curiosity, fuel the debate about the balance between sport and spectacle in the world of MMA.
Main duel of the night pits Anthony Hernandez against Gregory Rodrigues
Despite discussions about the fights, the main focus of UFC Sacramento remains in the Octagon, with the clash between Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues as the main fight. Hernandez, known as “Fluffy”, will look for a victory to get back on track with triumphs. The expectation is for an intense clash in the middleweight category, with fans eager to see who will emerge victorious from this important duel.
Fans’ expectations for the fights on the event’s main card
The MMA fan community has expressed its predictions for the most anticipated clashes of the night. Expectations are divided:
- Many believe that Anthony Hernandez will prevail over Gregory Rodrigues, pointing out that Rodrigues may struggle with pace in a longer fight and not achieve a quick knockout.
- Some predict that “Fluffy” will dominate and could achieve a submission or TKO late in the fight, especially in a late outcome.
- There are also those who consider the main event one of the least exciting of the year, but are still betting on “Fluffy” winning by submission.
The diversity of opinions reflects the unpredictability and fervor that surrounds each UFC event, adding an extra layer of expectation to the fights.
