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#4. Kelvin Gastelum (15-3-1) vs. Israel Adesanya (16-0) (Interim Middleweight Championship)
Two first-time title fighter - one a prodigy, another a perennial contender. One was the next big thing in the unorthodox realm of MMA while the other was a crafty striker with a never-say-die attitude.
This was set up to be the fight of the night. It ended up being the fight of the year!
Round 1: Adesanya started off in his unorthodox stance as usual as Gastelum stood in his traditional southpaw stance. Adesanya with a hard kick to Gastelum's body.
Both the title contenders soaked in the pressure and looked relaxed despite the high stakes attached to the fight. Gastelum moved around the Octagon before rushing in and tagging Adesanya with a 1-2 combo. Adesanya wobbled a bit but composed himself in time. As the replays showed, that was a clear knockdown for Gastelum.
Gastelum looked to connect with his powerful left hand and almost did so one a few occasions. Gastelum sent in a feeler with the right that acted as a setup for the left bomb to be unleashed.
Adesanya was careful and constantly moved his head to avoid getting tagged. The first round came to a close. Kelvin looked really good!
10-9 Gastelum
Round 2: Gastelum kept swinging wildly for the left but Adesanya moved well to avoid taking any damage. Gastelum was the aggressor as he took the fight to Adesanya. Gastelum pushed Adesanya onto the fence and landed a left.
Adesanya broke away and got back to the center of the Octagon.
The Last Stylebender knocked Gastelum down with a huge right to Gastelum's chin. Adesanya went in for the kill but Gastelum hung in for dear life.
He popped back up to his feet and Adesanya had finally found his range and rhythm. Adesanya kept connecting with strikes that came from weird angles. He connected with a spinning back elbow and partially dropped Gastelum again.
10-9 Adesanya
Round 3: Gastelum was more cautious in the third round as he opened the door for Adesanya to dictate the fight.
Kelvin kept feinting and moving around as Adesanya shot for a combination of kicks directed to the legs and body of Gastelum.
It was a close fight midway into the third round as Adesanya had 21 head strikes to Gastelum's 19. Adesanya kept it going with a clean straight right followed by a kick to the body.
Good head movement from Gastelum, who landed a short left in the clinch. Gastelum got in a takedown but Adesanya didn't stay grounded for long.
Back to the center of the cage, Gastelum's punched seemed labored and slow as Adesanya's low hands left him open for an incoming shot.
They moved around to take the fight into the championship rounds.
10-9 Gastelum
Round 4: Kelvin picked up the pace in the fourth round as he closed the distance on Adesanya and swung as he did so. They clinched for a few seconds before breaking up in the center.
Good knee to the body by Adesanya. Adesanya connected with a hard right but Kelvin didn't even flinch. Adesanya had 55 significant strikes in comparison with Gastelum's 35.
Gastelum rushed in for another combination but Adesanya showed smooth head movement to avoid getting tagged. They clinched on the fence for a few seconds again.
Kelvin landed a solid left, Adesanya answered with a straight right. Kevin got right back in with a wild left strike. Adesanya didn't back down and came back with a wild swing of hands himself. What a fight! Technical and wild at the same time.
With around 45 seconds to go, Gastelum stunned Adesanya with a well-placed head kick. Adesanya looked rocked and Kelvin went in for the kill. Adesanya got back to his senses and fired a few strikes in return.
The round came to close with Gastelum getting the upper hand in the end.
Round 5: Gastelum sensed a finish and went all in as the fifth round began.
Alright, to be honest, I just couldn't write while watching the fifth round. You ask why? It was jaw-droppingly good.
I'll try and summarize it for you.
To describe it in one sentence - Adesanya rose to the occasion in the fifth round. It was a make-or-break moment for either fighter and the Last Styledender stayed focussed despite the chaotic nature of the final round.
There were furious stand-up exchanges, a frantic scrammble on the ground and Gastelum proving that he is indeed a zombie.
Adesanya almost submitted and knocked Gastelum out on various occasions during the five final minutes, but, Gastelum showed heart and unmatched toughness to get through till the final bell. Kelvin put up a valiant effort, however, Adesanya is, truly, a prodigal talent. And new...
Result: Israel Adesanya def. Kelvin Gastelum via Unanimous Decision (28-26, 28-26, 28-26)
Fight of the year! I won't say much. Just watch this fight right now! NOW!
