UFC 236 Fight: Adesanya vs. Gastelum Inducted into UFC Hall of Fame

Las Vegas ­– UFC today announced that the classic 2019 fight between middleweights Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing as a part of the class of 2025. The 2025 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place this summer in Las Vegas and will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS®.

“The fight between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 was one of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen in my life,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White. “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!”            

As the co-main event of UFC® 236: HOLLOWAY vs. POIRIER 2, which took place on April 19, 2019, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, both Adesanya and Gastelum entered the event for the interim middleweight title on winning streaks of 16 and two, respectively.

Adesanya entered the Octagon with an undefeated 16-0 record (5-0 UFC), having most recently secured a win over former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

Gastelum entered the bout with a 17-3,1 NC record (10-3,1 NC UFC) and previous wins over UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks, former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt, and former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.

Both athletes quickly advanced to the center of the Octagon, exchanging a series of kicks and punches to begin the first round. With 2:52 seconds remaining in the first, Gastelum landed a right hook that sent Adesanya to the fence, securing the first major interaction of the fight and taking control of the remainder of the round. 

Adesanya took control of round two, landing a series of kicks and body punches, creating separation with his reach advantage. Gastelum landed a powerful right jab with 3:20 left in the second, as both fighters engaged at a rapid pace in proximity. Gastelum would continue to apply pressure as the aggressor, forcing Adesanya to the fence and around the perimeter of the Octagon with a barrage of punches. Adesanya would connect with an overhand right with 2:14 remaining in the round, knocking Gastelum down and inflicting his first damage of the fight. Adesanya would control the rest of the round, flooring Gastelum a second time in the round with a reverse elbow and evening the score at one round each. Adesanya continued to dictate the action throughout round three, leading the continuous exchange of jabs, low kicks and knees to the body.

Gastelum charged Adesanya to open the fourth round, picking up the pace and initiating exchanges in the center of the Octagon. Adesanya secured a knee to the body 40 seconds into the round, followed by a right hook to take early control. Both fighters continued to trade punches, standing toe-to-toe while moving around the inner circle of the Octagon. Adesanya stunned Gastelum with a right jab with one minute remaining, but he responded with a high left kick that stunned Israel, allowing Kelvin to apply pressure near the fence to close the round.

Adesanya, with his face visibly swollen and a cut over his eye, stood tall at the beginning of the fifth, with the cameras capturing him talking to Gastelum across the Octagon, as the sold-out crowd cheered with anticipation for the start of the final round.

The excitement continued into round five with both fighters giving everything they had to secure the interim title. Both fighters continued to exchange punches and kicks in close quarters, with Adesanya attempting a guillotine 90 seconds into the round, landing a quick takedown with Gastelum rolling out and into a mounted position on top of him. Adesanya attempted to secure a triangle off his back, but Gastelum slipped out and both fighters stood to their feet as the entire crowd gave them a huge ovation with three minutes remaining.

Gastelum continued to swing wildly, but Adesanya, now in control, evaded the onslaught and countered each attack with a strike of his own. Adesanya stunned Gastelum with a straight right with 2:20 minutes left, slowing his momentum and reestablishing his reach advantage. Gastelum continued to apply pressure, but Adesanya evaded all attacks and continued to counter, securing a knockdown with one minute left in the round. Adesanya landed several elbows and punches to close out the round, knocking down a bloodied Gastelum with 25 seconds left and closing the fight in full mounted position.

Adesanya scored three knockdowns in the round, the most-ever landed in the fifth round of a UFC title fight. His four overall knockdowns were also the most ever in a UFC title fight.

Adesanya won the fight via unanimous decision, becoming the new interim UFC middleweight champion. He would unify the middleweight title six months later by defeating Robert Whittaker via second round KO in the main event of UFC® 243: WHITTAKER vs. ADESANYA, which took place on October 6, 2019, at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

The bout won several awards, including Fight of the Year honors from MMA Junkie and MMA Fighting. 

Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.

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