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Check out the best photos from Israel Adesanya’s unanimous decision win over Kelvin Gastelum in the 2019 Fight of the Year.
Check out the best photos from [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag]’s unanimous decision win over [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] at UFC 236 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Photos by John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports and Logan Riely, Getty Images)
Exactly one year ago, Kelvin Gastelum paired with Israel Adesanya to put on one of the greatest fights in the history of the sport.
Exactly one year ago, [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] paired with reigning UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya to put on one of the greatest fights in the history of the sport. While he takes some fulfillment from his performance that night, Gastelum admits it still hurts to think how close he was to wrapping gold around his waist.
“I’m very proud of the effort that I put in that fight and what we did in that fight despite the circumstances, and I’m very proud of that fight because I got to do a lot of things that I haven’t been able to do in a lot of other fights,” Gastelum told MMA Junkie. “I’m very proud of it. At the same time though, this is not why I got into the sport, to say and look back, ‘I almost did it. I was this close.’ No, man. I’m not going to be one of those people.
“I’m not really worried about it right now, but when people ask me, and they’re like, ‘You were this close,’ it sucks. It burns in my soul. It burns in my heart to know I was that close, and I just won’t let it happen again.”
The UFC 236 headliner was MMA Junkie’s 2019 “Fight of the Year” and certainly didn’t see Gastelum (16-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) lose any standing in the division despite Adesanya taking home the decision win. However, when he returned to action seven months later, Gastelum wasn’t able to turn in the same type of effort, ultimately suffering a split-decision loss to Darren Till.
In retrospect, Gastelum admits it was a fight he probably shouldn’t have taken.
“I feel like after the Israel fight, I was eager to get back and prove something because I lost, but it didn’t work out in my favor,” Gastelum said. “I lost the Darren Till fight, and I feel like after the Darren Till fight, I realized, ‘Man, maybe I should have taken some more time to kind of heal from that beating I took last April.’ After that fight, I should have taken more time off.
“I was really eager. I had done more damage to my body than I probably realized. I wasn’t there mentally. I wasn’t there physically or emotionally in the Darren Till fight. I don’t even feel like I lost to him, just because of the way that I felt. I didn’t feel like really being there, to be honest.”
Gastelum has been forced to the sidelines in the time since that UFC 244 setback. After tearing his LCL in January, “The Ultimate Fighter 17” winner has been focused on rehabbing, and he says the time off has done him well, and he looks forward to working with his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, and UFC president Dana White to book another fight, which he hopes could be held in July, especially if International Fight Week goes on as planned despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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“It should be a few weeks before I get those conversations going again with Ali or Dana, and actually, I’m very much looking forward to it,” Gastelum said. “I’m looking forward to training again – just very much looking forward to that process again. This is what I love to do, and part of it is that process: Waking up in the morning, being sore, being tired, but at the same time, you know you’re chasing something incredible, and I can’t wait to be part of that process again.”
Gastelum currently sits at No. 13 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings, but he’s hoping for a chance to start building back up the ranks. Initially, he hoped to face Robert Whittaker, thought it now appears the former middleweight champ will be facing Till, instead.
Forced to consider other options, Jared Cannonier is another name that Gastelum finds appealing, as well.
“He’s at that level,” Gastelum said. “He’s a dangerous guy, and everybody recognizes how dangerous he is. That would be another big name. If you beat him, you’re right there, too, you know? That would be another guy.
“I don’t know. There’s a couple options. I just don’t know who the matchmakers would want me to match up with for the next fight, but I mean, I’m hoping for anybody: Robert Whittaker, Jared Cannonier, Jack Hermansson.”
In truth, the name really doesn’t matter too much to Gastelum. What’s more important is the number next to it. Gastelum believes he still belongs at the top of the division, and he wants a chance to prove it.
That effort from a year ago, it’s still there, Gastelum said. And at just 28 years old, he believes his best days are still ahead – including the one when he earns the title of UFC champion.
“I’m glad I’m taking this time to heal my body, heal my mind, heal everything, you know, and just get ready to make another run once again,” Gastelum said. “I’m still young. Man, I’m 28 years old. I’m not even 30. I haven’t even hit my prime yet.
“I still believe in myself. I still believe I’m going to be champion.”
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Here are the top four honorable mentions and winner of MMA Junkie’s “Fight of the Year” award for 2019.
With another action-packed year of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie takes a look at the best fights from January to December. Here are the top five and winner of MMA Junkie’s “Fight of the Year” award for 2019.
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5. Henry Cejudo def. Marlon Moraes at UFC 238
[autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) made more combat sports history when he defeated [autotag]Marlon Moraes[/autotag] (23-6-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) to claim the vacant bantamweight belt after a stunning turnaround.
Cejudo, who came into the event as flyweight champ, became the fourth simultaneous two-division titleholder in company history with a third-round TKO victory over Moraes to claim the 135-pound strap.
4. Vicente Luque def. Bryan Barberena at UFC on ESPN 1
[autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag] (17-7-1 MMA, 10-3 UFC) continued to show he’s among the most dangerous fighters in the welterweight division when he came out on the winning end of an all-out war with [autotag]Bryan Barberena[/autotag] (14-7 MMA, 5-5 UFC).
Luque kept his perfect UFC stoppage rate intact when at the end of a wild, thrilling, back-and-forth fight with Barberena, he put together a combination of knees that finally dropped his opponent and led to the stoppage with just six seconds remaining in final round.
3. Kamaru Usman def. Colby Covington at UFC 245
The highly anticipated welterweight title fight between [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 11-0 UFC) and [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] (15-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) surpassed all pre-fight expectations, but in the end it was the champion who came away with his title reign intact.
Usman and Covington went toe-to-toe for nearly five rounds, exchanging strikes on the feet and not once putting a wholehearted effort into a takedown attempt. Usman proved more dangerous on the feet in the matchup of wrestlers, breaking Covington’s jaw before dropping and stopping him in the fifth for the fight-ending TKO.
2. Paulo Costa def. Yoel Romero at UFC 241
[autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) validated himself as a true middleweight contender when he defeated [autotag]Yoel Romero[/autotag] (13-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in a bout that was every bit as exciting as it was billed to be beforehand.
Costa joined reigning 185-pound king Robert Whittaker as the only fighters to beat Romero in UFC competition when he earned a unanimous-decision victory in a matchup that was deemed “Fight of the Night” on one of the best cards of the year.
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In one of the best fights in recent memory, [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (18-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) claimed the UFC’s interim middleweight title in a classic five-round thriller with [autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) in the main event of UFC 236 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Gastelum moved quickly to the center at the start of the fight, while Adesanya was content to study from range. A few probing kicks and punches just touched the mark for Adesanya before Gastelum rushed forward with a pair of leaping power punches that missed. Gastelum looked comfortable in the pocket with Adesanya, and his left hand did land clean, leaving his opponent off-balance for a few tense steps away from the fence.
Adesanya continued to be the more accurate striker with his flicking shots, but Gastelum was finding the mark on occasion with his powerful blows. Adesanya’s movement saw him avoid Gastelum’s biggest shots, but he certainly wasn’t untouchable.
Adesanya was a little more aggressive to open the second, kicking at the body and then punching up top. Gastelum continued to press, looping the left hand over the top when in tight. Adesanya tried to attach high, but Gastelum’s defense was solid, and he countered with a beautiful straight punch down the middle. The big left followed shortly after, as well.
Adesanya did his best to slip and move on the outside, but Gastelum was undeniably finding the mark. As he gained confidence, Gastelum pressed, and Adesanya made him pay with a counter right that sent him crashing to the floor. Adesanya followed, but Gastelum was able to crawl back to his feet and reset.
Adesanya’s punches were beginning to land with more authority as the round unfolded. He countered well and again saw a right hand snap his opponent’s head back. A slick reverse elbow stunned Gastelum, who shot for the takedown unsuccessfully after being wobbled. Gastelum grabbed the body again in the final seconds but couldn’t get the fight to the floor.
Gastelum appeared energized to start the third, bouncing lightly on the outside and loading up on the big left. The crowd started chanting Adesanya’s name, and he looked confident on the outside. A brief Thai clinch saw Adesanya land a knee up the middle, but Gastelum pulled away and remained upright. Gastelum leaped forward with a few right hands, but Adesanya’s counters were well-timed and proved the more effective blows.
Adesanya’s right hand really started to find a home as the round unfolded, and Gastelum’s face showed the wear of the blows. In the final 90 seconds, Gastelum was able to drive forward and score a clean takedown, but Adesanya was instantly scrambling and back up on his feet, looking to strike. The two traded a few low kicks before the bell, and the round ended on the feet.
Gastelum came forward quickly in the fourth, and his punches came with bad intentions. Adesanya was forced to move laterally to avoid the chase, but he eventually found his way back to the center of the cage. Adesanya’s right hand again found a home, but Gastelum was able to shake it off and resume his pressure attack, eventually getting inside and briefly holding a clinch, though he wasn’t able to capitalize.
Adesanya tried to turn up the heat late in the frame, though his punches were met with powerful replies. Each time Adesanya tried to completely unload, Gastelum would swing back with menacing responses. A Gastelum high kick landed clean and stunned Adesanya in the final minute, and he couldn’t hide the repercussions. Gastelum charged to capitalize, but Adesanya was able to avoid the follow-ups and scamper to safety. Adesanya pressed inside at the bell, and the round ended against the fence.
With the fight in the balance in the final round, the crowd rose to their feet. Gastelum was incredibly aggressive again to open, but Adesanya shifted left and stayed out of trouble. Adesanya chopped the leg and then delivered a few straight punches that landed clean, but Gastelum would not go away. Gastelum continued to stalk from the center before shooting inside and looking for the takedown. Adesanya countered with a guillotine, but Gastelum slipped out of it after several very tense moments. As they hit the floor, Gastelum slipped to the top, but Adesanya threatened with a triangle choke and then an armbar in an amazing scramble. Gastelum pulled free, and the two returned to the feet.
On the restart, Adesanya went to work, peppering his opponent with stiff punches to the face. Gastelum absorbed them all and swung back, but it was clear the strikes were having an effect. Adesanya’s quick punches continued to score, and Gastelum failed on a takedown attempt. With time winding down, Gastelum moved forward. However, it was Adesanya’s punches that were true, and he again dropped his opponent with a little more than a minute remaining.
Gastelum refused to go away that easily, crawling to his feet and looking to attack. However, Adesanya was there to deliver more damage, bloodying Gastelum and sending him crashing to the canvas. Gastelum stood once again, but Adesanya was unrelenting and dropped him once again, finishing the final round with a barrage of punches on the floor. In the end, Adesanya was awarded the decision win and the interim title with scores of 48-46 across the board. He would then go to successful unify the titles with a second-round knockout of Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 in October.
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