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Reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has expressed concern about fight week for UFC 253. Specifically, the off chance that opponent Paulo Costa tries to ambush him in the hotel lobby.
Fortunately for “The Last Stylebender,” Team Costa doesn’t have the kind of firepower necessary to form his own gang. Probably because coach Eric Albarracin and teammate Henry Cejudo are too short to play the part.
“The so-called gang he’s referring to is me, Eric Albarracin and (Henry) Cejudo,” Costa told MMA Fighting. “That shows how he is. It’s a huge joke. He’s afraid of Albarracin, Cejudo and I doing something to him, he said he was prepared with his gang, too. First of all, there’s no such thing as a gang. And second, if I had to have any gang I wouldn’t do it with Albarracin and Cejudo, who are 5-foot-4.”
Adesanya (19-0), who captured the division crown by smashing Robert Whittaker last October, is coming off a tepid decision win over Yoel Romero back in March. Costa (13-0) also skated past “Soldier of God” his last time out and makes his long-awaited return after undergoing biceps surgery.
While fans will probably miss out on gang violence, I’m pretty sure there will be some pushing and shoving between Adesanya and Costa at the UFC 253 press conference in Abu Dhabi, as well as some physical contact at the corresponding weigh ins.
Which may be more action than we saw from “The Last Stylebender” in his last fight.