UFC 253: Israel Adesanya retains middleweight title with TKO win over Paulo Costa – world reacts

‘A master class in execution’. This is how Israel Adesanya’s UFC 253 title defense against Paulo Costa has been described following his second round TKO yesterday.

Adesanya outscored Costa to win by technical knockout, giving the Brazilian his first professional loss emphatically.

The Kiwi moved to 20-0 in their professional mixed martial arts career after having little trouble with the normally aggressive Costa.

The UFC media around the world were impressed with the performance.

“Israel Adesanya is a special fighter. There is no denying that right now. What he did against Paulo Costa was a masterclass in execution,” wrote MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn.

“It’s going to be really interesting to see what the future holds for Adesanya. He’s right on the cusp of being an absolute superstar, and if all the things UFC president Dana White said about the metrics related to UFC 253 , and the headliner in specifics, they’re true, so he’s on his way, “added Bohn.

ESPN similarly praised the Halberg winner.

“Adesanya had a ‘boring’ tag hung up on by critics after a lackluster win over Yoel Romero in March. But that tag didn’t fit in Fight Island as Adesanya rebuilt top contender Paulo Costa to retain his middleweight belt. It seems easy “the ESPN report said.

“That fight was a masterclass. He was never in doubt. There are levels to this game, and Adesanya showed us, again, that when it comes to the middleweight division right now in the UFC, he is above the rest.” ESPN said. UFC expert Ariel Helwani added.

In the Herald report, Christopher Reive of NZME said that Adesanya was a man of his word.

“It was exactly the kind of performance the 31-year-old said he would deliver, supporting his fight against Yoel Romero earlier in the year, which received a lot of criticism for inactivity,” Reive wrote.

“Adesanya was faster, smarter and just better than Costa,” said Kevin Iole, a columnist for Yahoo Sports.

“People were in the fight in a big way because they were about to see two great fighters face off for all the marbles.

“However, what we saw was something less. There was a great fighter, who is among the best champions the UFC has had, destroying a very good one.”

Adesanya will now await his next challenger, keeping an eye out for the showdown between former champion Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier. Adesanya has made no secret that he thinks Cannonier should be next in line for a title shot, however, he will have to surpass Whittaker to earn it.

“I already texted Jared Cannonier. He’s an amazing guy, I love his energy, he’s a beautiful man, and I said, ‘If you destroy Robert Whittaker, you’re next.’

“He’s who I want to fight next. He deserves it. If he easily beats Robert Whittaker and dominates him, he’s next.”