Forget the interim tag. Kelvin Gastelum and Israel Adesanya showed they belong along the best fighters in any division after taking part in an instant classic Saturday at UFC 236.
The two middleweight warriors put on an absolutely insane showing of skill, talent, and sheer toughness in front of thousands of screaming fans at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, leaving each other bloodied and battered. When the dust settled, it was Adesanya who emerged victories, bolstered by a 10-8 final round that pushed him to a unanimous decision (48-46, 48-46, 48-46) win and an interim championship belt being wrapped around his waist.