Referee Marc Goddard recalls "ungodly" Israel Adesanya vs. Kelvin Gastelum clash: "I won't be ashamed to say I've cried after that fight"
The now-famous Israel Adesanya vs. Kelvin Gastelum clash actually brought referee Marc Goddard to tears after its conclusion. Tasked with officiating the interim middleweight title bout at UFC 236, Goddard witnessed one of the most thrilling contests in 185-pound history.
Now, five years later, Goddard sat down on talkSPORT's Uncaged to reveal the emotional depth of his experience refereeing such a bout. He expressed sheer astonishment over what was happening before his eyes, which amounted to two fighters waging the most primal war possible.
"That fight, when you've got two fighters that went into the deepest, f***ing darkest depths of their soul. Deepest, darkest waters imaginable or possible in a fight, and I was alongside them, standing three feet away, witnessing this unfold."
However, the way the fight concluded left Goddard overcome with emotion. Adesanya and Gastelum gave each other as good as either man could, but they ultimately made it to the final horn. Battered and bruised, they embraced after a 'Fight of the Night' winner.
"You watch the fight when it finishes. I run off straight away, I know they're safe. Head in my hands, and I won't be ashamed to say I've cried after that fight. Watching it back, because it was ungodly what those guys did, it was ungodly."
Watch Marc Goddard recount Israel Adesanya vs. Kelvin Gastelum below (53:44):
In the end, Goddard raised Adesanya's hand in victory, crowning him the interim middleweight champion. 'The Last Stylebender' would go on to unify the belts against then-undisputed champion Robert Whittaker and craft an all-time great legacy in the division.
This isn't the first time that Marc Goddard has praised Israel Adesanya vs. Kelvin Gastelum
Two years ago, the UFC's official X/Twitter account shared highlights of Israel Adesanya's classic war with Kelvin Gastelum, which drew Marc Goddard's attention. The veteran referee described the fight in glowing terms.
"The most unbelievable fight I have ever stood so close to. What privilege. I can still recall it so clearly. Amazing, truly amazing."
It isn't the only Adesanya fight Goddard has officiated either, as he served as the referee for 'The Last Stylebender's' first MMA encounter with Alex Pereira, which 'Poatan' won.