Ultimate Fighting Championship declared today that UFC 236 on April 13th will feature an interim middleweight title fight between top 185 pound contenders Kelvin Gastelum and Israel Adesanya.
Gastelum (15-3, 1 no contest) most recently had his fight against middleweight champion Robert Whittaker cancelled in the last minute because of a hernia from Whittaker that required surgery. Whittaker is presently recovering from the injury and will come back in the next half of 2019. Before his fight cancellation, Gastelum earned a split decision over fellow top contender Jacare Souza and pumped out former winner Michael Bisping.
Adesanya (16-0) has transitioned from elite kickboxer to one of the best strikers in mixed martial arts. “The previous Stylebender” has gone 5-0 at the UFC including current victories over contenders Brad Tavares and Derek Brunson in addition to former winner Anderson Silva less than two weeks ago from the replacement main event for UFC 234.
Here’s what MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas needed to say about the bout:
“Stylistically, if Adesanya can keep this battle standing, he clearly has an advantage together with his elite kickboxing background and striking skill-set. Gastelum has power on the toes and presents problems as a southpaw, but he’s almost certainly must take this battle to the ground to acquire it. It’s easy to presume that this is a great stylistic matchup for Adesanya, but perhaps we’re underestimating Gastelum here. Gastelum has faced some of the best boxers in the world in middleweight as an undersized 185-pounder and has performed well. That being said, Adesanya is on a mad rise right now has an enormous amount of support in the betting public so I will open him as a -185 betting favored with all the comeback on Gastelum being +155.”
Kalikas opened the betting lines for Gastelum vs Adesanya moments ago via Bet DSI
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UFC 236: Gastelum vs Adesanya
April 13, 2019
Location: TBA
Main Event — Interim Middleweight Title
Kelvin Gastelum +155
Israel Adesanya -185

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