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“I think Robert will still be champion. He will defeat the fake champion, Israel.”
Paulo Costa might want to lock horns with middleweight rival Israel Adesanya, but the Brazilian powerhouse believes reigning champ Robert Whittaker will emerge victorious over ‘The Last Stylebender’ at UFC 243, where both men are set to collide in a headlining title unification bout in Melbourne, Australia.
Speaking to MMA Junkie in a recent interview Costa, who recently beat former title challenger Yoel Romero in a Fight of the Night classic at UFC 241, called Adesanya a ‘fake champion’ and declared Whittaker the ‘more complete’ fighter.
“Robert is a more complete fighter than Israel,” Costa told MMA Junkie. “I think Robert will still be champion. He will defeat the fake champion, Israel. I think Robert will win by judges’ decision.”
Costa is currently nursing a ruptured tendon in his left bicep but the 28-year-old phenom would like to challenge the winner of Whittaker vs. Adesanya by the end of the year.
“I had surgery on the left biceps tendon,” he said. “It was an old injury. I had to fight with 50 percent of the ruptured tendon against Romero because I didn’t have time to have surgery before the fight. Now that the fight has happened, it was the ideal time to perform surgery because I will have time to recover and return 100 percent to challenge for the belt.
“I will be out for just three weeks and I can fight again in December,” Costa continued. “I will wait to fight for the belt. This is my time. I am next.”
UFC 243: Whittaker vs. Adesanya is scheduled to take place next month, Oct. 6 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.