Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Israel Adesanya knew the game Paulo Costa was playing ahead of their UFC 253 fight,
Israel Adesanya has replied to those who doubted him in his UFC 253 title fight against Paulo Costa, stating he understood the ‘dumb’ Brazilian’s game all along.
Adesanya defeated Costa by second-round TKO this past weekend in the main event of UFC 253. The fight was very one-sided with Adesanya punishing Costa in the first round with leg kicks before finishing him with strikes in the second.
Both men exchanged a lot of words before the fight and it’s clear no love was lost even after the fight. Talking at the UFC 253 post-fight press conference Adesanya said he knew after the first round the fight was over.
“I was so fresh. I looked over and I could see he was sitting down,” Adesanya said. “In the second round, his antics, what they want — they want me to stand there. ‘Come, come, why you running, come here.’ They just want me to stand there so you can punch me.
“I’m not stupid, dummy. I told you he’s dumb. I’m smart. I understand his f—king game.”
The win against Costa meant Adesanya improved to 20-0 and picked up the 100th win of his combat sports career. After the fight, “The Last Stylebender” said he wants to fight Jared Cannonier next if he beats Robert Whittaker in their upcoming fight.
“This was my 100th win in combat sports all around,” Adesanya said. “Listen, one fight, two fights, three fights, four fights, five fights, six fights, all the way to a f—king hundred. I’ve had over 100 fights. I’m not a f—king baby in this game.