Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC
“Yes, I am going to Melbourne. Dana White is sending me there and said I get the next title shot. I fight the winner of Whittaker-Adesanya.”
Paulo Costa has a score to settle with interim UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya, which is why ‘Borrachinha’ is hoping ‘The Last Stylebender’ will beat official champ Robert Whittaker to unify the titles at UFC 243.
Costa, who has gone back-and-forth with Adesanya over the past year and will be ringside for UFC 243, called the former kickboxing champion a ‘skinny clown’ and says he has a ‘personal problem’ with the New Zealand-based fighter.
“Yes, I am going to Melbourne. Dana White is sending me there and said I get the next title shot. I fight the winner of Whittaker-Adesanya,” Cost said in a recent interview with BJPenn.com.
“I can beat both. I think Adesanya is a fake champion. He hasn’t fought anyone tough, he is a skinny clown. I have a personal problem with him. If he beats Whittaker, which I don’t think, I’m going to kill him. He doesn’t stand a chance against me. As for Whittaker, he is good, tough guy. He is not as strong as Yoel, so I can take him. He is like Yoel with less power, so I can beat both of them. I really want Adesanya, though.”
Costa last fought earlier this year at UFC 241, where the Brazilian powerhouse beat former middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero in a Fight of the Night classic at Anaheim’s Honda Center.
The 28-year-old is hoping to return to the Octagon and fight the winner of Whittaker vs. Adesanya in the new year.
“I want to fight in January against whoever wins in October. UFC is the boss, so they will decide when it will happen. I want that fight in January.”
UFC 243: Whittaker vs. Adesanya takes place next month, October 6 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.