Israel Adesanya enters the UFC Hall of Fame on June 26, 2025, for his 2019 bout against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236.
The induction is not for his full career, but strictly for that specific fight, which joins the Fight Wing of the Hall of Fame this year. T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas hosts the ceremony, and UFC FIGHT PASS streams it live, with proceeds going to the UFC Foundation.
The event celebrates a moment that tested Adesanya’s endurance. Observers regard the bout as one of UFC’s most intense contests.
UFC officials confirm the induction under the Fight Wing, which recognises battles that bring the sport’s evolution.
Adesanya’s fight against Gastelum left an indelible mark, setting a standard for future title clashes.
Why the fight matters
On April 19, 2019, at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Adesanya and Gastelum met in a match for the interim middleweight title.
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From the first round, the bout demanded full focus, with the momentum shifting multiple times across five brutal rounds. The match later concluded with both men visibly battered. The Nigerian International won the match at last.
Fans, analysts, and UFC officials alike praised the fight for its championship-caliber performances.
The induction places this bout among an elite class of contests whose impact extended far beyond the final scorecard.
This ceremony, streamed globally, allows fans everywhere to revisit that unforgettable night and honour what it represented.
The Hall of Fame Fight Wing welcomes one of the sport’s boldest and most technical confrontations in recent memory.
