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The Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero title fight should have never been booked in the first place, considering “Soldier of God” was 0-2 coming into their middleweight showdown, but the matchmaking was forgivable because we all expected violence.
Instead we got the 185-pound version of Lewis-Ngannou.
That’s why Adesanya (19-0) is planning to make a statement when he puts the middleweight strap on the line against division No. 1 contender Paulo Costa, who is expected to battle “The Last Stylebender” at some point this summer on “Fight Island.”
“This fight is about me,” Adesanya told MMA Fighting. “This next fight is about me, it’s not really about Costa or anyone else. It’s about me proving myself. After that last fight, and dealing with what I had to deal with a statue, I’m looking to actually to go in there and have fun this time.”
Costa (13-0) blasted his way into the middleweight title picture with five straight wins under the UFC banner, with four of them ending ny way of brutal knockout. “The Eraser” was last seen rubbing out Romero in their UFC 241 showdown last August.
“This is picture perfect,” Adesanya said. “That’s why I love it. The way he looks, this juiced up monkey, evil Drago looking motherfucker. There’s a skinny boy coming in there to whoop his ass, and when he whoops his ass, the shit I’m going to do to him afterwards. Oh my god. All the shit he said leading up to this fight, he’s going to pay for it. He’s going to hear after the fight. Guarantee you.”
Adesanya opened as the slight betting favorite ahead of their inevitable clash.