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Israel Adesanya says his brief encounter with Paulo Costa confirmed what he already thought about the muscular Brazilian: it’s all barking and not biting.
The undefeated rivals, who meet for the middleweight title at UFC 253 on Sunday (New Zealand time), had a surprisingly civilized conversation when they crossed paths at their ‘Fight Island’ hotel in Abu Dhabi earlier this week.
Ricky Wilson / Stuff
Israel Adesanya had the opportunity to evaluate Paulo Costa earlier this week.
Given the bad blood between them, many would have expected a replay of the fireworks that broke out during their previous interactions, particularly under the tense atmosphere of fight week.
But for the champion, it was an opportunity to assess his opponent before going to work and it took much more than the casual observer.
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“I went there, I evaluated him, I patted him on the shoulder to feel how dense he was,” Adesanya said during his pre-fight press conference. “I shook his hand because I wanted to feel the kind of pressure that a guy exerted who said ‘I wouldn’t shake his hand when I hit him …’
“He’s like one of those dogs that barks behind the fence, but when the fence opens, he turns around and he’s very shy. I could feel that in him and it’s energy.
Mike Stobe / Getty Images
Brazilian Paulo Costa is undefeated in 13 fights.
“I even said he looks thin. I was hoping he would take it badly, but he and Wallid (Ismail, Costa’s manager) were laughing like little girls.
“I knew they were going to submit to me. He didn’t leave when I checked.”
Unsurprisingly, Costa took a different take, stating that the Nigerian-Kiwi “changed his personality” from previous meetings.
Ultimately, what really matters is how they respond in the Octagon and knockout artist Costa says that anyone who thinks he’s just a fighter, lacking the precision of a skilled forward like Adesanya, will be in for a surprise.
“That’s exactly what I try to show everyone, but people think he’s the sniper and I’m the tough guy who throws heavy punches, but I’m not,” Costa said. “My shots have the right direction to go.”
With Costa by the cage to see Adesanya claim the undisputed crown over Robert Whittaker last year, and again for his title defense against Yoel Romero in March, the excitement around this showdown has been building for some time.
It’s only the second time in UFC history that two undefeated fighters have fought for an undisputed title, and UFC President Dana White predicted it would be the fight of the year.
However, Adesanya had a more measured view of the confrontation that will take place behind closed doors.
“I know this is a great fight, I know I will do well,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s because there’s no fanfare and less media, but I feel like it’s just another fight, another day at the office.”
But what will give the fight a lasting impression, according to ‘The Last Stylebender’, is the image of him proving that you don’t always need big muscles to win big fights.
“People say it’s going to be fight of the year, like Dana White. But that’s only if he’s strong enough to take a five-round beating from me. I just don’t think his gas tank is going to hold up, Adesanya said.
“But I’m not downplaying the stakes. I feel like my legacy is just his looks. People are still fooled by muscles and big heads and think that’s what a fighter is like, especially casual ones.
“Once they see this skinny clown supposedly hitting this muscular jester … it will blow their heads off, especially the way I’m going to do it.”
