UFC 253: Unbeaten Status To Be Lost By Either Adesanya Or Costa

Unbeaten middleweight stars Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa will meet for an eagerly-anticipated title match as the main event of UFC 253, which sees the series return to ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the morning of Sunday 27 September 2020.

Adesanya (19-0) is the current middleweight king, looking to complete a second title defence as the undisputed champion after seeing off the challenge of Yoel Romero via unanimous decision at UFC 248 in March of this year.

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‘The Last Stylebender’, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria but also a New Zealand national, believes his experience and status put him above Costa for this clash.

“It’s a cliche to say before every fight that he’s never faced anyone like me. He’s only beat two guys that are ranked. I beat like four or five guys that are ranked. Six, maybe. I lost count,” said Adesanya.

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He added, “There’s some stuff that he does that I look at him and I’m like that’s pretty cool. But there aren’t many. They’re many things that I do that I am sure he is amazed.”

Costa (13-0) has not been in action since defeating Romero back in August last year, and has taken the war of words with his upcoming opponent to a whole new level.

He labeled Adesanya the “No 1 fastest runner” in reference to the champion’s tactics in his fight with Romero.

“I think he will be like Romero, more running. I don’t know if you know, but Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world, got the coronavirus. I wish the best for him, good recovery for him but with this news, now Adesanya is the No 1 fastest man in the world,” said Costa.

UFC 253 – Main card

- Main event: UFC middleweight championship: Israel Adesanya v Paulo Costa

- Co-main: Light heavyweight championship: Dominick Reyes v Jan Blachowicz

- Flyweight: Kai Kara-France v Brandon Royval

- Women’s bantamweight: Ketlen Vieira v Sijara Eubanks

- Featherweight: Hakeem Dawodu v Zubaira Tukhugov