Kelvin Gastelum: Israel Adesanya Hasn’t Fought Top Opposition

Kelvin Gastelum is set to challenge Israel Adesanya for the interim middleweight title in the co-main event of next weekend’s (Sat., April 13, 2019) UFC 236 from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

The fight was scheduled after Gastleum’s previously slated bout with current champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 234 was called off due to injury for ‘The Reaper.’ Adesanya beat legendary former champion Anderson Silva at that same event. The win completed a meteoric rise for ‘The Last Stylebender.’

He’s won five consecutive bouts in less than year’s time in the Octagon, an almost unheard-of track record. But if you hear Gastelum tell it, it’s not that impressive. He told MMA Junkie this week that Adesanya simply hasn’t fought the opposition he has:

“I don’t think he’s been through the fire that I’ve been through. Hasn’t fought the quality of opponents that I have.”

The Top Level

Indeed, Gastelum has fought the best of the best at middleweight, with wins over Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza and former champion Michael Bisping in his last two fights. He also faced former champion Chris Weidman, although in a losing effort.

Adesanya, meanwhile, has faced Rob Wilkinson, Marvin Vettori, Brad Tavares, Derek Brunson, and now Silva. He won all the fights, yet Gastelum has fought the top tier. For that reason, he doesn’t believe Adesanya is ready:

“You know, obviously he’s fought some great fighters,” Gastelum said. “But the top five guys are, any one of those top five guys can be the champion, and I don’t think he’s fought those kind of guys.”

Disadvantage To Advantage

One huge advantage Adesanya has over Gastelum is his reach. The shorter fighter has dealt with that disadvantage his entire career at 185 pounds, however. He believes he’s done so effectively enough to make it an advantage:

“I feel like my disadvantage, I’ve kind of learned to make my advantage,” Gastelum said. “My height, I’ve learned to get under guys real easy. I’ve learned how to do that and how to maintain my range despite my limited capabilities.”

As far as for preparing for what ‘The Last Stylebender‘ presents, Gastleum closed by saying he’s really only watched his two most recent bouts:

“Adesanya has only been in the organization a year, a year-and-a-half, something like that,” Gastelum said. “So I went back and watched the Derek Brunson fight and the Anderson Silva fight, and that’s it.”