Israel Adesanya vs Kelvin Gastelum interim title fight booked for UFC 236 on April 13

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) may not have a location for its upcoming UFC 236 pay-per-view (PPV) fight card just yet, but it now has a five-round championship main event (unless something better comes along).

That’s according to promotion president, Dana White, who told ESPN that Israel Adesanya will collide with Kelvin Gastelum for the interim middleweight title on April 13, while reigning division champion, Robert Whittaker, recovers from surgery.

Adesanya (16-0) is fresh off his unanimous decision win over Anderson Silva at UFC 234 earlier this month in Melbourne (video), the same event that saw Whittaker withdraw at the last minute, leaving Gastelum (15-3, 1 NC) high and dry.

The former welterweight crowned himself champion anyway and promptly told “The Last Stylebender” that he wasn’t worthy of fighting for the strap. Unfortunately for Gastelum, White and Co. do not agree.

The winner is expected to face the recovering Whittaker later this year in a title unification bout, but it remains to be seen just how fast “The Reaper” — who’s targeting a summer return — can get himself back into action.

Stay tuned.