UFC 234 Whitaker Vs Gastelum – Postponed

There was plenty of action at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Australia, this past weekend, but a lot of it happening before a kick or punch had even been thrown.  The main event of Robert Whitaker against Kelvin Gastelum was cancelled at the eleventh hour due to Whitaker suffering from a hernia just before the fight.  In fact, his condition was deemed so serious that he was in emergency surgery for a hernia and twisted & collapsed stomach, at the point that the fights for the evening were getting underway.  Gastelum, whilst understandably disappointed, was understanding that situations like this can arise, and is happy to know that the fight will happen, just at a later date.  Whitaker’s recovery is set for as little as four weeks, so we await confirmation of when and where the fight will actually take place.

The planned co-main event of the evening was promoted to headline the evening and the fight did not disappoint.  Kickboxing sensation Israel Adesanya put on a commanding performance against the soon to be Hall of Famer Anderson Silva.  Silva did have his chances in the fight, but overall Adesanya proved to be the stronger and more creative and won the unanimous decision.  Adesanya is likely to face the eventual winner of Whitaker and Gastelum if their fight happens relatively quickly, however, if there is a delay it is possible that he will face Gastelum himself for the interim title.  As for Silva, he is not done yet and has expressed a desire to continue and hoped for the next fight in Brazil.

Rest of fight card

Rani Yahya vs. Ricky Simon                                  135 lbs – Bantamweight

Simon def. Yahya by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-25)

Montana De La Rosa vs. Nadia Kassem               125 lbs – Flyweight

De La Rosa def. Kassem by submission (triangle armbar) at 2:37 of Round 2

Jim Crute vs. Sam Alvey                                       205 lbs – Light heavyweight

Crute def. Alvey by TKO (punches) at 2:49 of Round 1

Dong Hyun Ma vs. Devonte Smith                         155 lbs – Lightweight

Smith def. Ma by KO (punches) at 3:53 of Round 1

Austin Arnett vs. Shane Young                              145 lbs – Featherweight

Young def. Arnett by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Kai Kara-France vs. Raulian Paiva                        125 lbs – Flyweight

Kara-France def. Paiva by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Teruto Ishihara vs. Kyung Ho Kang                       135 lbs – Bantamweight

Kang def. Ishihara by tech submission (rear naked choke) at 3:59 of Round 1

Marcos Rosa Mariano vs. Lando Vannata              155 lbs – Lightweight

Vannata def. Mariano by submission (kimura) at 4:55 of Round 1

Callan Potter vs. Jalin Turner                                155 lbs – Lightweight

Turner def. Potter by KO (punches) at 0:53 of Round 1

Wuliji Buren vs. Jonathan Martinez                        135 lbs – Bantamweight

Martinez def. Buren by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)