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Israel Adesanya isn’t so sure that Paulo Costa is a clean UFC athelete despite never failing a drug test.
Israel Adesanya has said Paulo Costa’s muscular physique will make his victory against “Borrachinha” even sweeter when they fight at UFC 253 next month.
Adesanya (19-0) is scheduled to defend his middleweight title against Costa (13-0) in the main event of UFC 253 on September 26th. Costa has received his fair share of doping allegations during his impressive run at middleweight, and “The Last Stylebender” told ESPN he isn’t sold on his opponent being a clean athlete.
“I think it’s great for me, it’s that aesthetic of it. I’m this skinny person, this little frail kid that everyone looks at,” Adesanya said. “He looks like the perfect antagonist, he’s big, bulky and juiced up to the f—king gills. He’s a guy that beats everybody on the fence, so when I come out there with the Bruce Lee shit and fuck him up, it’s going to be ‘oh my god wow, he beat that big muscle boy.”
Adesanya, who recently said he still has plans to move up to challenge Jon Jones even at heavyweight, defended his middleweight title for the first time this year, when he defeated Yoel Romero in a lackluster decision in March. Meanwhile Costa hasn’t fought since defeating Romero back in November of last year.
“The casuals are going to feed off it and I love that,” Adesanya said. “It means more eyes and more attention.”
Despite taking place next month, UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa is without a location or venue to its name yet.