[ad_1]
Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa spent months exchanging verbal blows, but when it came time to step into the Octagon at UFC 253, the only significant blows that landed were those of the middleweight champion. After spending a full round beating Costa’s lead stage, Adesanya finished the challenger with punches in the second round of the main event at Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
Adesanya’s strategy was evident from the start as he kept his distance and unloaded with kicks to Costa’s lead leg, alternating between outside kicks and knee kicks. When Adesanya landed, Costa responded with taunts before attempting to cut the cage. But Adesanya’s footwork was spot on, allowing her to slide away from any danger before resuming her leg attacks.
Costa looked to turn things around in Round 2, trying to push a bit more, but Adesanya continued to avoid exchanges and began mixing punches to the head. A kick to the head from Adesanya opened a gash above Costa’s eye, and suddenly the taunts from the challenger stopped as he began to back away.
When Costa finally got his wish and the two began exchanging in tight spaces, Adesanya landed a direct blow to Costa’s temple, sending him tumbling to the mat. Adesanya wasted no time following Costa to the ground, unleashing a brutal flurry of punches and forcing the referee to stop the action at the 3:59 mark of Round 2.
“I’ve been telling you guys, but everyone thinks … like Roy Jones said, ‘You must have forgotten’ because of what happened last time,” Adesanya said after his win. “She had to remind the world who is the best.”
With the victory, Adesanya improved to 20-0 and dispatched a man who many considered his toughest rival in the division. With the options for new challenges dwindling after just two title defenses, Adesanya said he had already notified the man that he could be next at the opportunity ahead.
“I already DM Jared Cannonier,” Adesanya said. “He’s a great guy, I like his energy. I said, ‘You beat Robert Whittaker and you’ll be next.’ If he beats Robert Whittaker, he’ll be next.”
CBS Sports was with you all night giving you results and analysis from UFC 253 on Fight Island.
UFC 253 fight results
- Israel Adesanya (c) def. Paulo Costa by technical knockout in the second round (strikes)
- Jan Blachowicz def. Dominick Reyes by TKO in the second round (strokes) to win the light heavyweight title
- Brandon Defeat Royval. Kai Kara France via submission in the second round (guillotine choke)
- Ketlen Vieira def. Sijara Eubanks via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Hakeem Dawodu def. Zubaira Tukhugov via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
- Brad Riddell defeat. Alex Da Silva by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Defeat Jake Matthews. Diego Sánchez by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
- Ludovit Klein def. Shane Young by first round TKO (head kick, punches)
- William Knight def. Aleksa Camur via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
[ad_2]
