Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum are set to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing for their memorable battle at UFC 236.
Israel Adesanya just snagged an early ticket to the UFC Hall of Fame. During Saturday’s UFC 312 broadcast, it was revealed that Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum will be inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame. Their epic back-and-forth battle at UFC 236 earned them this honor.
Wanna relive the magic? Check out the video tribute to their fight below.
Adesanya and Gastelum clashed in April 2019 at UFC 236’s co-main event. "The Last Stylebender" had already racked up five wins in the UFC, including a decision over the legendary Anderson Silva. Gastelum came in hot, with consecutive wins over top contenders Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Michael Bisping. With Robert Whittaker sidelined due to health issues, Gastelum faced off against Adesanya for an interim belt.
Though not for the undisputed title, Adesanya and Gastelum put on a show for the ages. They went toe-to-toe from start to finish. Adesanya earned a unanimous decision with three scores of 48-46, grabbing the gold amid roaring cheers from Atlanta fans and praise from fellow fighters.
Their showdown was so electrifying it even overshadowed the main event between Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway. That fight might see its own Hall of Fame induction someday. As for Adesanya, he later unified the titles by defeating Whittaker at UFC 243. He became a two-time champ after taking down longtime rival Alex Pereira at UFC 287.
Adesanya vs. Gastelum joins a prestigious list of Hall of Fame fights. Remember Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen (2024 inductee)? Or Rua vs. Henderson 1 (2018) and Griffin vs. Bonnar 1 (2013)? Yeah, it’s that kind of company.
The UFC 2025 Hall of Fame ceremony is set for Las Vegas this July, though the exact date’s still up in the air. Another inductee has been announced: Craig Piligian, creator of The Ultimate Fighter.