Hooker: Adesanya has the edge in title quest
Dan Hooker believes fellow Kiwi UFC star Israel Adesanya’s stellar striking will prove too much for Kelvin Gastelum to overcome when they square off for the interim middleweight title.
Adesanya has the chance to become the first New Zealandbased fighter to win a UFC belt when he meets American Gastelum on April 14, which has been confirmed to take place in Atlanta.
The bout will serve as the comain event for UFC 236, a payper-view card headlined by the interim lightweight title fight between featherweight champion Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier.
And the winner is expected to face middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, who is recovering from abdominal surgery, in a unification bout later this year.
‘‘Very big opportunity. It’s definitely well deserved for those two,’’ Hooker said. ‘‘I feel like they set it up quick as well and they can get that quick turnaround, get that interim title on and then heal up when Rob is back in fighting shape and make the Adesanya-Whittaker super fight.’’
Adesanya has taken the UFC by storm since making his promotional debut 12 months ago.
‘The Last Stylebender’ has won his first five fights to extend his overall MMA record to a perfect 16-0, earning a title shot earlier this month with a unanimous decision victory over Anderson Silva at UFC 234.
Gastelum was meant to meet Whittaker on the same card only for the New Zealand-born Australian to pull out at the last minute due to a abdominal hernia and collapsed bowel.
The southpaw, 27, is a quality wrestler who is strong in the clinch and has been constantly improving his stand-up game.
But Adesanya is one of the most technically proficient strikers in the UFC and Hooker ultimately believes that will prove to be the difference.
Underlining his edge in that area, Adesanya will take a seveninch height and eight-inch reach advantage into the bout.
‘‘I feel like it’s a good matchup,’’ Hooker said. ‘‘For me, I feel like Israel is a bit long, he’s just a bit too long for Gastelum to cover that distance with his hands. Gastelum is a good boxer, but when it comes to striking you can’t really get past Israel Adesanya.’’
Hooker is on the comeback trail from a tough loss to sixthranked lightweight Edson Barboza in December, that ended a run of four straight victories.
‘The Hangman’ is awaiting final clearance from the doctors but he is in good shape and is looking to return to the octagon in the next few months.
‘‘I don’t think it’s too far off at all. If I could fight in May, I’ll look to fight in May,’’ Hooker added.