Israel Adesanya talks during a press conference for UFC 248 at Toyota Center on February 07, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum put on a show when they met for the interim UFC Middleweight title
Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum have been in a few wars in their respective UFC careers.
Adesanya is the current UFC Middleweight champion and is undefeated in his career. The Stylebender also has an incredible kickboxing record and is possibly one of the best MMA stars ever to have taken the sport.
Gastelum, for his part, was one of the top stars in the UFC. However, his powers have waned in recent years and he has lost three fights in a row.
Gastelum was asked about which rival surprised him in the Octagon. The Middleweight star named Adesanya as the rival and explained just how tough he was in the battle.
“I did not expect Israel to be as tough as he was. The level of punishment taken on both sides would’ve made many, many, many great fighters quit.”
Adesanya responded to this statement by Gastelum, and the champ seemed pleased with the compliment.
Gastelum has lost all his fights since losing to Adesanya. However, Stylebender has only gone from strength to strength since picking up the gold.
He defeated Robert Whittaker to become the undisputed champion and also defended his title against Yoel Romero.
While Adesanya has taken on all comers, he does have a tough clash up next.
Paulo Costa is set to face Adesanya at UFC 253. The pair have built up quite a rivalry in recent months, and they will finally lock horns soon.
Costa, like Adesanya, is undefeated in his MMA career. The Brazilian also has a different style compared to Adesanya’s and is known for his knockout ability.
Many believe that Costa is a proper challenge for Adesanya and it will be interesting to see how this clash goes.
Follow our dedicated UFC page for instant UFC news and updates
