Jack Hermansson Easily Defeats Kelvin Gastelum

Jack Hermansson quickly defeated Kelvin Gastelum in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN+ 30. The Joker solved this one after just 1:18 inside the octagon posting his 21st career win.

Hermansson (21-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) used a heel hook to force his rival to tap out and pretty much stun the fans all over the world, as they expected to see a much more exciting fight.

The way the match started, nobody could predict this would be the end of it. Gastelum (16-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) was the one who was aggressive and who set the pace. After he tried to make one strike, Hermansson went for a clinch but quickly ended up on the canvas, with Gastelum on top of it.

"The Joker" wasn't playing around 😤@jackthejokermma stops Kelvin Gastelum with a heel hook early in the first round ⏰ #UFCFightIsland2 pic.twitter.com/oBIftlAN8L

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 19, 2020

But that was when Joker performed a perfectly timed heel hook, and there was no chance for Gastelum to get away from it. Everything changed in less than a second, and we saw a tap out.

“Every time I step in here, it’s so much pressure,” Hermansson said. “Everything in my life is working toward this goal, and when you get it, there’s no better feeling.”

Without a doubt, this was one of his biggest successes in his career, and it came after a nasty defeat against Jared Cannonier. Back then, the Swed had everything set for a triumph which would launch him into the orbit, and possibly arrange him a title-eliminator fight, if not even a chance to fight Adesanya himself.

In the end, he suffered a TKO in the second round.

When we take a look at Hermansson’s previous wins, three out of the last four, including this one, came after a submission. The one against Ronaldo Souza was after a unanimous decision, but prior to that, triumphs vs. David Branch and Gerald Meershaert were both after a guillotine choke.

Hermansson already indicated who he wants next as his opponent. July 25 brings us the next UFC event with a headliner between Darren Till and the former champ Robert Whittaker.

“I should fight the winner of that fight,” he said. “I’m going to fight the winner of the fight.”

Many see that as the possible title-eliminator. The UFC already set a clash between Adesanya and Paulo costa, and it wouldn’t be odd to see the winner of that superspectacle to go against the winner of this fight here.

On the other side, for Gastelum, this was the third straight loss. After two decision defeats against Till and Israel Adesanya, this one came much too early. Everybody believed that this was the perfect opportunity for the 28-year old to bounce back and get back into the middleweight division’s top echelon.

Truly embarrassed guys. I’m sorry. My team, my family @UFC @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so u can know who u are, what u can rise from, how u can still come out of it.

— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) July 19, 2020

“Truly embarrassed guys. I’m sorry,” he wrote on his Twitter account.” You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so u can know who u are, what u can rise from, how u can still come out of it.”

He will now have to start all over again, picking less attractive opponents before getting a chance for a big comeback fight.

In the main event of the night, Deiveson Figueiredo submitted Joseph Benavidez to win the flyweight title. The Brazilian needed just one round to post this win and to snatch a belt.