Israel Adesanya’s UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony, alongside other members of the 2025 class, will hold on Thursday, June 26, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, USA.
The UFC announced the date on Monday as the former two-time UFC middleweight champion’s epic 2019 five-round interim title clash with Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 will be enshrined in the promotion’s Fight Wing as part of the 2025 class.
According to the announcement, all proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the UFC Foundation, with the event marking the organisation’s annual recognition of its most influential contributors and historic battles.
“I knew that was a special fight, a special moment in combat sports history,” Adesanya told The Mac Life earlier this year when the Hall of Fame selection was first revealed in February.
“I even said on the camera when they had the cameras on me in the stadium, I said, ‘Hey Kelvin, that was us’ because it takes two to tango. That man can salsa.”
The Nigerian-born New Zealander expressed profound gratitude for the honour, which will see his unanimous decision victory join other legendary contests like Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar, Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg II and Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen in the prestigious Fight Wing.
Adesanya’s battle with Gastelum featured one of the most memorable moments in UFC history when, before the fifth and final round, he declared he was prepared to die in the octagon.
“That was the realest moment I think I’ve ever had in the cage,” Adesanya reflected.
“I meant every single word of it, and I returned the favour by trying to kill him. And he’s a hard man to kill. In the moment, I wasn’t scared, I wasn’t scared of death. I just thought, ‘if this is how I go out, this is how I go out — but I’m going to die trying.’”
UFC CEO Dana White previously lauded the contest as one of the greatest fights he’s ever witnessed.
“This was an absolute war with the interim title on the line. Congrats to Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum on a fight that will always be remembered!” White said.
Gastelum, who currently remains active in the UFC’s middleweight division, and on Monday reflected on the significance of their matchup in a social media post.
“This fight happened six years ago, & I still get so many call backs and compliments and comments about this fight. I find it funny cause this feels like something that happens to old people, 13 years in this game, and people think I’m done. Far from it,” wrote Gastelum on X.
The UFC Hall of Fame, established to honour the promotion’s most significant contributors since its 1993 inception, features four wings: Pioneers, Modern Era, Fight Wing, and Contributors. Adesanya and Gastelum’s inclusion in the Fight Wing will cement their place in UFC history regardless of their future accomplishments in the sport.
Credit: punchng.com
