In a media day ahead of Saturday's UFC Saudi Arabia event, Kelvin Gastelum revealed that his ongoing weight-cutting issues have posed significant challenges for his second fight camp since returning to the welterweight division. Gastelum, a one-time interim title challenger, is scheduled to face Daniel Rodriguez in a featured welterweight bout, but concerns are growing about his ability to make weight.

Gastelum admitted that this training camp has been particularly difficult, with behind-the-scenes difficulties affecting his ability to shed pounds. "To be honest, this has been a pretty hard training camp," Gastelum revealed. "There's a lot of things that went on behind the scenes that a lot of people don't know, don't get to see, but it's been pretty hard to get my weight down this time around. [It's been] harder than last time."

The 32-year-old fighter expressed worry about making weight for the upcoming fight, stating, "I am pretty worried this week [about making the weight]. But we're going to talk with the manager and come up with the best game plan. But I think we're in for a rough weight cut."

This isn't the first time Gastelum has struggled with weight issues. In his previous stint in the middleweight division, he missed weight on multiple occasions, including a cancelled fight against Donald Cerrone at UFC 205. In his welterweight return against Sean Brady at UFC Austin in December, Gastelum made weight but suffered a lopsided submission loss.

There seems to be some disagreement regarding weight agreement between Gastelum and Rodriguez. Rodriguez, responding to Gastelum's comments, revealed that the UFC has contacted him and that he has agreed to move the bout to a middleweight contest. "Actually, the matchmakers reached out and I tried to get it to a catchweight, but he must be having such a bad fight camp that he can't even make 180," said Rodriguez. "I'm currently 179 pounds, so I have it to put weight back on... I did agree to take a percentage of his purse, which is only fair."

While the UFC has yet to officially announce the change, the event page for UFC Saudi Arabia currently lists Gastelum vs. Rodriguez as a middleweight bout. Discussions regarding the weight issue are reportedly ongoing, and an update is expected soon.

With both fighters locked in a verbal dispute over the weight agreement, uncertainty looms over the bout. Gastelum's weight-cutting issues raise concerns about his ability to perform at his best, while Rodriguez, willing to accommodate the change, seems determined to make the fight happen on his terms.

As fans eagerly await a resolution, the fate of the Gastelum vs. Rodriguez clash hangs in the balance, leaving the MMA community anxiously awaiting an update from the UFC regarding the weight agreement and the status of their highly anticipated welterweight encounter at UFC Saudi Arabia.