MMA

Israel Adesanya vs. Kelvin Gastelum’s classic UFC 236 duel announced for 2025 Hall of Fame

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Israel Adesanya just earned early entry into the UFC Hall of Fame.

During Saturday’s UFC 312 broadcast, it was announced that Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum are set to be inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame for their epic back-and-forth battle at UFC 236.

Watch a video tribute to the fight below.

Adesanya and Gastelum clashed in the co-main event of UFC 236 in April 2019. “The Last Stylebender” had won his first five UFC fights, including a decision nod over the legendary Anderson Silva, while Gastelum entered the contest with back-to-back wins over top-ranked middleweights Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Michael Bisping. With division champion Robert Whittaker sidelined due to health issues, Gastelum ended up facing Adesanya for an interim belt.

Even though they weren’t fighting for the undisputed championship, Adesanya and Gastelum delivered performances for the ages as they battered each other on the feet from bell to bell. Adesanya earned a trio of 48-46 scores to take the decision and the gold, but both warriors were showered with applause from a raucous Atlanta crowd and praised by their peers.

The fight was so good that it overshadowed an equally thrilling main event between Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway, which is likely to be inducted in the future. Adesanya can also expect his own induction, as he went on to unify the titles with a win over Whittaker at UFC 243 and became a two-time champion when he defeated longtime rival Alex Pereira at UFC 287.

Adesanya vs. Gastelum joins an illustrious list of Hall of Fame fights, including the first meeting between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen (2024 inductee), Mauricio Rua vs. Dan Henderson 1 (2018), and inaugural wing inductee Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar 1 (2013).

The UFC 2025 Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place in Las Vegas this July, with an exact date still to be determined. One other inductee has been announced, The Ultimate Fighter creator Craig Piligian.

 

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