- The UFC has inducted Israel Adesanya’s legendary fight against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 into the Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing
- The fight, widely regarded as one of the greatest in UFC history, saw Adesanya claim the interim middleweight title via unanimous decision
- Adesanya knocked Gastelum down three times in the fifth round, setting a UFC title fight record
The UFC has officially recognised one of the greatest fights in the sport’s history, announcing that the epic battle between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing as part of the class of 2025.
The induction ceremony is set to take place this summer in Las Vegas, at a yet-to-be-scheduled time, commemorating a bout that has remained unforgettable in MMA history.
UFC President & CEO Dana White expressed his admiration for the fight, calling it “one of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen.”
He described the five-round war for the interim middleweight title as an “absolute war,”
“The fight between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 was one of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen in my life, 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!” he stated.
Heading into the contest, Adesanya carried a flawless 16-0 record, including a recent victory over UFC legend Anderson Silva.
Gastelum, boasting a 17-3-1 record, had already taken down notable names like Michael Bisping, Chris Weidman, and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. With both fighters hungry for UFC gold, the fight stakes couldn’t have been higher.
The fight began with high pressure as Gastelum landed a huge right hook in the first round, rocking Adesanya and taking control early.
However, the Nigerian-born striker responded in round two, using his reach advantage to land devastating kicks and punches. He knocked Gastelum down twice in the round, levelling the fight at one round apiece.
As the fight progressed, Adesanya’s striking precision shone through, while Gastelum continued pressing forward with relentless aggression. In the fourth round, Gastelum momentarily stunned Adesanya with a high kick, but “The Last Stylebender” recovered quickly.
The fight reached legendary status in the fifth round, as Adesanya secured three knockdowns in the final round, the most ever in a UFC title fight’s fifth round. Despite Gastelum’s skill and resilience, Adesanya sealed a unanimous decision victory, claiming the interim UFC middleweight title. Six months later, he would go on to unify the belt by knocking out Robert Whittaker.
The fight won multiple accolades, including Fight of the Year from MMA Junkie and MMA Fighting. Now, its place in the UFC Hall of Fame ensures that future generations will remember this unforgettable war.
Nigerian star Israel Adesanya pockets staggering money despite loss to Du Plessis in UFC 305 final
Previously, TheRadar reported that Adesanya, known as 'The Last Stylebender', was set to earn a guaranteed $750,000 for the UFC 305 fight, while Du Plessis is set to collect $500,000.
With the anticipated strong performance of the pay-per-view broadcast, both fighters were expected to walk away with earnings well into seven figures. Du Plessis earned slightly less than Adesanya despite his victory.
