UFC: Israel Adesanya lands first blows as countdown to Paulo Costa blockbuster begins
- Kiwi vows to punch Brazilian ‘as many times as possible. And then kick him as well – until he falls down’
- Adesanya-Costa middleweight title fight will headline a monster card at UFC 253
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has his bags packed and is waiting for confirmation of flights – and venue – for his blockbuster title bout with Paulo Costa at UFC 253 on September 26.
And the unbeaten Nigerian-born Kiwi (19-0) said he would be bringing with him – to wherever – a fight plan that is as simple as it comes.
“Punch him in the face – as many times as possible,” the 31-year-old told SCMP MMA on Friday.
“And kick him as well – until he falls down.”
There’s been some bad blood simmering between Adesanya and the 29-year-old Costa (13-0) for a while now, and it first threatened to boil over when the Brazilian appeared cageside last time the Kiwi was seen in action.
At UFC 248 in Las Vegas back on March 7 – a bout “The Last Stylebender” won via unanimous decision over Cuba’s Yoel Romero (13-5) – Costa was as loud as his shirt, calling the Kiwi out from his seat, and then rounding on him during a cameo appearance at the post-fight press conference.