Adesanya wins interim middleweight belt. Photo: Reproduction / Facebook @ufc
Israel adesanya confirmed his reputation as a great fighter and won Kelvin Gastelum in a spectacular duel. After five hard-fought rounds, the Nigerian proved superior to his rival and took the fight with a unanimous decision from the judges (48-46, 48-46, 48-46). With the result, he won the interim middleweight belt (up to 84 kg.). The fight was an attraction for UFC 236, in the early hours of this Sunday (14), in Atlanta (USA).
After the victory, Israel remains undefeated in a sequence of 17 fights and 17 wins – seven of which in the UFC.
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The fight
When the fight started, the atmosphere of tension was total. Israel threw a low kick at the beginning and, soon after, a kick to Kelvin's stomach. Then, Kelvin threw an overhand, which went empty. Adesanya showed great agility in dodging Gastelum's blows. At a certain point, Kelvin's hand entered, causing the opponent to swing. Israel, however, absorbed the blow well and returned to the center of the Octagon. Contrary to what many thought, the American proved to be more dangerous in the first round.
When the fight resumed, Israel once again relied on kicks to the opponent's body. The difference in size favored the Nigerian's strikes against Kelvin. Adesanya returned more active in the stage, but Gastelum's strikes were more dangerous. At one point, a direct shot from Israel took his opponent to the ground. Kelvin, however, managed to get up and returned to the fight. Little by little Israel began to loosen up in the fight and the blows began to land on the North American's face. A round elbow rocked Gastelum again, who got up, but the fighter countered the blow.
The third round started evenly. The fighters studied each other in the center of the octagon and seemed to avoid striking, fearing a possible counterattack. Gastelum insisted on the right cross, but Adesanya showed his usual efficiency in the dodge. At a certain point, the athletes entered into a frank exchange, being applauded by the fans. The audience cheered with each blow that passed into the void. With a minute left in the round, Kelvin managed to land a nice takedown on Israel, who managed to get up.
In the fourth round, the American seemed to have caught his breath. He started the stage by attacking the Nigerian, who was moving a lot, trying to confuse Gastelum. Adesanya landed a straight right on Kelvin, who showed that he absorbed his opponent's blows well. At the end of the round, the athletes once again entered into a frank exchange. At one point, Kelvin landed a shin to the head, shaking Israel. The Nigerian then tried to move away to try to recover. In the last 10 seconds, Gastelum's blows began to come in, hurting Adesanya's face.
The last round returned with Kelvin putting pressure on Israel, who tried to counterattack at every opportunity. After trying a punch, Israel tried a standing necklock. Kelvin defended himself by taking the fight to the ground. The public stood up to applaud the athletes, who put on a great spectacle for the spectators. At the end of the fight, Kelvin seemed to feel the blows delivered by Israel. The North American's gas appeared to be nearing its end. After a series of punches from Adesabya, Kelvin went to the ground. The North American was practically surrendered and continued to try to get up. The fight, finally, ended with Israel tirelessly striking its opponent.
Khalil Rountree defeats Eryk Anders in tense fight
the american Khalil rountree won Erik Anders by unanimous decision of the judges in a duel contested in the light heavyweight division (up to 93kg). The beginning of the fight was very tense. Both fighters are known for their high knockout power. Anders kept his distance at first, as Rountree tends to be quite explosive in the opening minutes of his fights. In the middle of the round, few blows were applied by the athletes. Khalil bet on low kicks on his opponent. Eryk's right thigh was already quite red at the end of the stage and the fighter was already starting to land blows.
At the beginning of the second round, Anders was surprised by a right that exploded in the athlete's face, who fell to the ground. Eryk managed to get up and ended up suffering another knock down in a counterattack well applied by Khalil. Anders was visibly unwilling to face Rountree's striking, who, in turn, avoided fighting his opponent on the ground. Halfway through the round, Anders suffered another fall after another blow from his compatriot. Despite three falls, Anders showed that he absorbs blows to the head very well. Before the break, Eryk suffered another fall as a result of another cross thrown by Khalil.
In the last round, Rountree returned to chasing his opponent looking for the knockout. Anders remained trying not to play into his rival's game. The two athletes showed excellent physical conditioning, remaining active after more than 10 minutes of fighting. Coming to the end of the fight, Eryk began to show difficulties in remaining in attacking guard due to the multiple kicks that Khalil delivered to his leg throughout the fight. The fight came to an end without the long-awaited knockout.
In your last fight, Khalil rountree was defeated by knockout by the Brazilian Johnny Walker in November last year.
UFC 236 results
MAIN CARD
Lightweight: Dustin poirier derrotou Max Holloway in the unanimous decision of the judges (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Average weight: Israel adesanya derrotou Kelvin Gastelum in the unanimous decision of the judges (48-46, 48-46, 48-46)
Light Heavyweight: Khalil rountree derrotou Erik Anders in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Welterweight Weight: Dwight Grant defeated Alan Jouban via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov submitted Ovince St-Preux with a rear naked choke 2m30s into R2
PRELIMINARY CARD
Lightweight: Matt frevola derrotou jalin turner in the unanimous decision of the judges (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Fly weight: Alexandre pantoja derrotou Wilson reis by technical knockout at 2m58s of R1
Welterweight Weight: Max griffin defeated Zelim Imadaev via majority decision (29-27, 28-28, 29-27)
Bantamweight: Khalid Taha defeated Boston Salmon by knockout 25s into R1
Welterweight Weight: Belal Muhammad | defeated Curtis Millender via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 30-26)
Bantamweight: Montel Jackson defeated Andre Soukhamthath via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-27)
Fly weight: Poliana Botelho defeated Lauren Mueller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Bantamweight: Brandon davis submitted Randy Costa with a rear naked choke at 1m12s of R2
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