Hermansson expects to get middleweight title shot… against Costa

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Hermansson expects to eventually get a UFC title shot, just not against Israel Adesanya. Jack Hermansson picked up another quality win this past weekend, quickly submitting Kelvin Gastelum …

UFC Fight Night: Hermansson v Gastelum

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Hermansson expects to eventually get a UFC title shot, just not against Israel Adesanya.

Jack Hermansson picked up another quality win this past weekend, quickly submitting Kelvin Gastelum with a heel hook and going back up the middleweight title picture in the process. He believes he may be one more win away from a title shot, but interestingly enough, he doesn’t think he’ll be facing Israel Adesanya for the belt.

“I believe Paulo Costa will be champion when I fight for the title,” Hermansson said (transcript via MMA Mania). “He’s going to put some pressure on Adesanya. Paulo Costa’s pressure is just insane. He’s throwing so hard with everything he’s got. He can do it for almost all of the rounds. It’s just incredible the physique and the power that guy has.

“I think that’s going to be problematic for Adesanya. But you don’t know what’s going to happen in this sport. Adesanya is a great fighter, he’s a standup wizard and it’s going to be an interesting fight.”

Adesanya and Costa are said to be fighting each other late this year, and with that, Hermansson is already eying another match up for him.

“The winner between Robert Whittaker and Darren Till, that’s the fight to make,” Hermansson said. “That’s the only thing that makes sense right now, so I’m keeping my eyes on that fight next weekend.”