UFC: Israel Adesanya to meet Kelvin Gastelum in middleweight title fight

Israel Adesanya fights out of Auckland gym City Kickboxing.
Israel Adesanya fights out of Auckland gym City Kickboxing. Photo credit: Getty

Kiwi MMA middleweight Israel Adesanya will reportedly fight for UFC gold in April.

Adesanya is fresh off a career-best win over the legendary Anderson Silva in Melbourne a fortnight ago.

ESPN reports that UFC boss Dana White has confirmed 'The Last Stylebender' will fight Kelvin Gastelum for the interim middleweight title at UFC 236 in April.

Newshub understands that discussions were advanced, but no contract had yet been signed.

Gastelum was scheduled to challenge NZ-born Australian Robert Whittaker for the middleweight title at UFC 234, but Whittaker was hospitalised the day of the fight with an abdominal hernia.

UFC: Israel Adesanya to meet Kelvin Gastelum in middleweight title fight

He is still recovering from emergency surgery and could be on the shelf until June at the earliest, hence the UFC's decision to book an interim title fight.

Adesanya has scored five UFC wins in just over a year, while Gastelum is riding a two-fight win streak, including a vicious knockout of former champion Michael Bisping a year ago.

The pay-per-view event, scheduled for April 14 (NZT), will take place at a venue to be determined.

Newshub.