UFC Inducts Adesanya/Gastelum Fight Into Hall Of Fame
The 2019 Fight of the Year winner between Nigerian-New Zealand professional mixed martial artist, Israel Adesanya and American Kelvin Gastelum has been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
‘The Last Stylebender’ announced himself to the MMA world by beating Gastelum for the interim middleweight title in a gruelling 25-minute battle at UFC 236 in April 2019. In the end, Adesanya won by a unanimous decision.
Gastelum sent Adesanya into the fence with a booming right hook in the opening stanza. But Adesanya came back to drop Gastleum with a clubbing overhand in round two.
Round three, saw several wild exchanges while the fourth frame was capitalised by a massive head kick from Gastelum that buckled Adesanya’s knees. As the shot connected, Adesanya began to retreat while Gastelum poured on the pressure. Yet somehow, someway, Adesanya managed to weather the storm and come back firing.
In the final round, Adesanya went on to floor Gastelum three times in an epic conclusion. All three judges awarded him a 10-8 round for his spirited display down the home straight and it proved to be the difference with scorecards of 48-46, 48-46, and 48-46 in his favour.
Six years on from their thrilling fight, the UFC inducted the fight into its Hall of Fame at UFC 312.
“One of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen in my life.” -Dana White@KelvinGastelum vs @Stylebender is the newest inductee to the #UFCHOF Fight Wing pic.twitter.com/YQIbgwNiNC
— UFC (@ufc) February 9, 2025
Adesanya was in attendance at UFC 312 and was given a standing ovation when the announcement was made.
“It was a surprise definitely,” Adesanya said in an interview. “Watching it back I am surprised I kept my composure and my emotions in check. I was being present and thankful for the moment. But I want to say thank you to Kelvin because it is not just me.”
“It takes two to tango and he is a great dance partner,” he added. “It means a lot [to be inducted]. At first, I thought ‘I’m too young. I am still fighting. But then when they said it was for the fight I was like ‘Oh ok that was an instant classic’ so I respect it.”
UFC president Dana White also paid tribute to the clash.
“The fight between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 was one of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen in my life,” White said.
“This was an absolute war with the interim title on the line. Congrats to Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum on a fight that will always be remembered!”
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