Exclusive: Israel Adesanya Says He'll Be First To KO Kelvin Gastelum, Takes Shot At His Inactivity

MMA

Israel Adesanya is back in action this weekend at UFC 236, facing Kelvin Gastelum for the vacant UFC Interim Middleweight Title.

Not only does Adesanya plan on winning UFC gold this weekend, but he also wants to be the first fighter to knockout Gastelum.

UFC Fight Night Tampa: Buckley vs. Covington Results, Highlights

“It will be my first time winning a belt and it’s gonna be the first time Kelvin’s finished,” says Adesanya in an exclusive interview with Fightful’s James Lynch.

Gastelum has suffered three losses as a professional MMA fighter, with two coming by decision and one by submission.

UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker is expected to face the winner of Adesanya/Gastelum and Adesanya says he has already lapped Whittaker when it comes to fighting ability.

“Lets put it this way, he has fought twice in the last three years. Now if you put (me in) and you give me three years, just watch…it’s only been a year now and just wait the next two years to see what I do. I’m already overlapping him and I’m gonna lap him again,” says Adesanya.

UFC 236 takes place on Saturday, April 13 from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia with Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.

Get exclusive pro wrestling content on Fightful Select, our premium news service! Click here to learn more.