Adesanya: Costa Not Ready To Fight Me, Cannonier Is A Dark Horse

The beef between newly-minted UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya and Brazilian top contender Paulo Costa, will no doubt continue until the two settle their differences inside the UFC Octagon.

A highly anticipated showdown for the title will have to wait a little longer than planned though, due to Costa’s recent surgery on his injured bicep, which forced him to sit out until April 2020.

Adesanya however, is pulling no punches and has hit out at the unbeaten Brazilian for not being prepared to fight him. Speaking to MMA Fighting, Adesanya made a point of stating that he doesn’t pull out of fights.

“I guess he wasn’t ready to fight. If he wanted to fight, he would have made sure to do the right things to be in shape already to fight. I don’t pull out. My pullout game is weak,” Adesanya stated.

“Unfortunately for him, he might miss his shot forever if he doesn’t climb his way back up the ranks,” he added.

Adesanya continued his trash talking with a strong message and warning to Costa.

“That’s why I said I want to fight homeboy Paulo Costa because I want to get him and I want to beat him before USADA gets him. I like the challenge of that.”

When asked about Jared Cannonier, the Nigerian Kiwi title-holder spoke nothing but respect to the ‘Killa Gorilla’.

“One hundred percent I’m looking at him. He’s a beast in the division. He’s the dark horse in the division. He’s the guy everyone is sleeping on but you can’t sleep on him because you’ll get put to sleep.”

Adesanya even claimed that Cannonier is one of the most dangerous fighters in the 185-pound division, besides from him and teased a possible showdown in the future.

“I think he’s the guy, the second most dangerous guy in the division behind myself. I look forward to fighting him after his next fight.”

Adesanya further explained why he needs to add ‘flavour’ in the build-up of his encounter with Costa, which he believes would give an embarrassing milestone to Paulo’s professional career.

“I was looking forward to my next fight, because that would have sold itself. Because he would try to trash talk me in his broken English, and I would embarrass him on the mic, and then eventually I’d embarrass him on the mat. So that was already set in stone that it was going to be glorious.”

Then the UFC Middleweight King pointed out why he doesn’t need that type of publicity when facing Jared.

“But a guy like Cannonier, I don’t have to. The fight sells itself because of the skill set, and just people want to watch me. Something about me that people just want to watch me get my ass kicked maybe. So they’ll be tuning in either way.”

Talking about the venue of his next bout, Israel was quick to blurt out his location of choice.

“I do want it to be in America. A lot of people want it to be in New Zealand, but I feel Dan Hooker should be the next guy to headline in New Zealand. I can take over the United States.”

Even if he conquered Australia in his last outing against Robert Whittaker at UFC 243. where he successfully owned the crown in front of 57,000 fans, ‘The Last Stylebender’ is eager to really make his mark in the U.S.

“I’ll come here, maybe Las Vegas, maybe Houston, maybe Staples Center [in Los Angeles]. We’ll see. We’re talking right now.”


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