'Ninja s---': Israel Adesanya's 2019 tussle makes hall of fame

At UFC 312: Du Plessis vs Strickland 2, the UFC announced that the 2019 fight between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum would be inducted into the organisation's hall of fame.

The bout took place in April that year, with both men vying for title contention. There was no shortage of dramatic moments on the night as Adesanya and Gastelum went back and forth, both ending up bloody at the fight's finish.

The scene of Adesanya mouthing the words "I'm prepared to die" between rounds has since entered mixed martial arts legend.

At the end of five rounds, Adesanya emerged victorious via unanimous decision. He would go on to capture UFC gold later that year.

"Even immediately after the fight I saw, I knew that was a special fight, that was a special moment in combat sports history," Adesanya said.

"It takes two to tango, and that man can salsa."

Speaking of the moment where he mouthed those now iconic words, Adesanya said: "That was the realest moment I think I ever had in the cage, the realest because I meant every single word of it. And I returned the favour by trying to kill him - and he's a hard man to kill."

Adesanya was in the stands in Sydney as a spectator, unaware of the upcoming announcement. He was most likely in attendance to see up close who would win the main event between current champion Dricus Du Plessis and former titleholder Sean Strickland. Adesanya has faced - and been defeated by - both men in the last two years.

"I'm glad I composed myself, I didn't even cry or anything. But I felt the emotions. But yeah, I just look at those words and I'm like, hell, bro, that movie, that fight, was the movie. It was on some real-life ninja s---."

Adesanya was complimentary of his former foe and now fellow hall-of-famer.

"He has a hard head bro. Pereira has a hard head, but Kelvin ... The noggin' on that man."