Veteran UFC referee Marc Goddard has praised the remarkable middleweight showdown between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum, calling it the finest fight he has ever officiated. In an interview with talkSPORT MMA, Goddard highlighted the co-main event of UFC 236 in Atlanta as his most unforgettable experience in the Octagon. 

The British referee, who has presided over many legendary matches, characterized the interim middleweight title bout as an “ungodly” exhibition of resilience and skill. 

“Without a doubt, it’s Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum, every day of the week, twice on a Sunday,” Goddard stated when asked to name his top fight. “I was in awe of what was unfolding before my eyes.” He expressed how profoundly he was affected by the fighters’ remarkable resolve, recalling a touching moment before the final round when Adesanya proclaimed, “I’m prepared to die.” 

“You had two competitors at that moment who simply refused to back down,” Goddard elaborated. “They delved into the deepest parts of their souls and faced unimaginable challenges in that fight, and I was right there with them.” He confessed that the fight's intensity left a significant impression on him, admitting, “I’ve cried after watching that fight again because what those fighters accomplished was extraordinary.” 

The five-round battle, which Adesanya won by unanimous decision, is widely celebrated as one of the greatest fights in UFC history, and Goddard’s heartfelt reflections only enhance its legendary reputation in the realm of mixed martial arts.