Veteran UFC referee Marc Goddard has hailed the epic middleweight clash between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum as the greatest fight he has ever officiated.
Speaking to talkSPORT MMA, Goddard singled out the co-main event of UFC 236 in Atlanta as his most memorable encounter in the Octagon.
The British official, who has overseen numerous iconic bouts, described the interim middleweight title fight as an “ungodly” display of heart and skill.
“Every day of the week, twice on a Sunday, it’s Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum,” Goddard declared when asked about his top fight. “I couldn’t believe what I was watching unfold in front of me.”
Goddard said he was deeply moved by the fighters’ extraordinary determination, recounting a poignant moment before the final round when Adesanya declared, “I’m prepared to die.”
“You had two guys in the exact same moment that wouldn’t go away,” Goddard explained. “They went into the deepest, darkest depths of their soul and into the deepest, darkest waters imaginable in a fight, and I was right alongside them.”
Goddard admitted the intensity of the bout left a lasting impact on him, saying, “I’ve cried after that fight watching it back because it was ungodly what those guys did.”
The five-round war, which Adesanya won by unanimous decision, has been widely regarded as one of the greatest fights in UFC history, with Goddard’s emotional testimony further cementing its legendary status in mixed martial
arts.
