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UFC middleweight champion Israel
Adesanya insists his rivalry with Paulo
Henrique Costa is nothing personal.
In fact, he claims that his UFC
253 opponent is doing the majority of the work when it comes to
manufacturing animosity leading up to Saturday’s headling bout on
Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
“If you look at it, you can really ask yourself, who’s been doing
the trash talking? Who’s been the one posting stupid memes? They’re
not even that creative. Who’s been the one posting videos and
putting the effort into trying to create something?” Adesanya asked
during UFC 253 media day. “I just said I don’t like the guy because
I don’t like his vibe, I don’t like the way he looks. I’m honest
about it. He’s always trying to create something, the reason why he
doesn’t like me. He doesn’t really have anything.
“It’s never personal. It is what it is. The difference is I get to
settle it with him this weekend.”
Adesanya has quickly emerged as a star in the Las Vegas-based
promotion, but his ascent slowed somewhat in his last outing at UFC
248, where he took a tepid five-round verdict over Yoel Romero.
“The Last Stylebender” nonetheless believes he has the potential to
trascend the sport, and an impressive win over the also-unbeaten
Costa could propel him to new heights.
“The last fight was supposed to [take me to the next level]. The
last fight was the big one because of the buildup,” Adesanya said.
“I feel like I needed a valley in my story. That was my valley and
now it’s time to rise again. This is going to shoot me into the
next stratosphere.”
That said, Adesanya isn’t buying into the Costa hype. Though a
matchup of undefeated fighters in a championship headliner is rare
in UFC competition, the Nigerian-born Kiwi points out that he has
already been in big moments: a “Fight of the Year” clash with
Kelvin
Gastelum and an attendance record breaker against Robert
Whittaker.
“I think the muscles fool everyone,” Adesanya said of Costa. “The
muscles and the whole flurries and fighting punching bags fool
everyone. Everyone thinks, ‘Wow this is a big fight.’ I’m like,
‘Nah.’ I’ve already had the fight of the middleweight division,
which was Kelvin
Gastelum. I’ve already had the biggest fight in the
middleweight division crowd-wise, which was Robert
Whittaker.
“I’m gonna make it look easy. A lot of people are gonna be shocked
by that.”
If Adesanya takes care of business as he plans, he has his eyes on
Jared
Cannonier, who is set to square off against Whittaker at UFC
254 next month.
“He’s been the dark horse of the division,” Adesanya said. “I look
forward to challenges like that. Me and my coaches have had an eye
on him for a while.”
