It’s eight months into 2019 and Israel Adesanya vs. Kelvin Gastelum still stands out on the short list of best MMA fights of the year.
With UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker on the shelf due to injury, Adesanya (17-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and Gastelum (20-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) squared off at UFC 236 in April. The interim title was on the line and boy, did Adesanya and Gastelum throw down.
The two top contenders put on a relentless pace with knockdowns, scrambles, and just about everything else MMA fans love most about the sport. Both men absorbed their fair share of damage and showed why they are two of the most highly thought of 185-pounders on the planet.
Despite almost being finished in the fifth round, Gastelum gutted out the oncoming attack and survived to hear a final bell.Somehow, the fight lasted until the judges’ final decision. Soon after the scorecards were tallied, Adesanya’s hand was raised.
At UFC 243, Adesanya will attempt to trade in the interim belt he won in April for the undisputed title when he takes on champion Robert Whittaker (20-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC).
UFC 243 takes place Saturday (Sunday locally) at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Ahead of his title unification bout at UFC 243, check out Israel Adesanya’s instant-classic against Kelvin Gastelum in the video above.
