Paulo Costa: I Will KO Israel Adesanya, He Can’t Handle Powerful Guys

UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa and the division’s champion Israel Adesanya, share the same last opponent, Yoel Romero. Both of which went the distance. However, the fights couldn’t have been anymore different. While ‘The Last Stylebender’s’ title fight with the Cuban at UFC 248 last March was uneventful to say the least, ‘Borrachinha’ vs ‘The Soldier of God’ at UFC 241, was declared the Fight of the Night.

Adesanya is set to defend his title against Costa. The champion recently said that he was going to put Paulo on the back foot when they meet inside the Octagon. Speaking to MMA Junkie however, the Brazilian laughed off Israel’s comments, saying that he doesn’t have the power to do any such thing.

“He will never surprise the people and pressure somebody, because he never did that. Never in his whole life, because just one thing I can prove [why] he will not do that [is] because he doesn’t have power,” Costa said. “He doesn’t have power to knock out somebody, make pressure on somebody, so he just has one chance, on the counter. So, if he cannot counter, he cannot do nothing. He will make the same fight he did against Romero, just wait, and when Romero comes in, he goes out.

“I will go inside him, pressure him and knock him out – first or second round, not more,” Costa continued. “Believe me, not more. Not more because he can’t handle powerful guys with his very fragile chin. He will go down or on his body. Doesn’t matter.”

Costa added that he is going to save some energy for the championship rounds against Adesanya, just in case, as he was critiqued by some for running out of gas in his three-round fight against Romero.

“It’s impossible to go so hard like I did against Romero for five rounds. You need to save some energy, but I know this. I will save a little bit more enegy than I saved against Romero.”

Although the UFC returned this past weekend with UFC 249, there still remains uncertainty as to when the promotion will be able to put on international fight cards. Adesanya has stated that he wants to fight Costa on Fight Island.

Who do you think wins between Israel Adesanya Paulo Costa?


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