Paulo Costa News

Paulo Costa, Israel Adesanya
Paulo Costa

Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa disagree on grappling skills: "This fight can be on the ground also"

Tom Taylor - September 25, 2020

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and his UFC 253 title challenger Paulo Costa don’t agree on who has the grappling edge. Adesanya and Costa will meet in the main event of UFC 253 on Saturday night. While the pair are known first and foremost as strikers, it sounds like they could end up grappling a bit too.

Israel Adesanya
Paulo Costa

UFC 253: ‘Adesanya vs Costa’ Fight Card and Start Times

Harry Kettle - September 25, 2020

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Fight Island this weekend for UFC 253, headlined by a mammoth Middleweight Championship showdown between Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa. Event: UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa Date: Saturday, 26th September 2020 Location: Flash Forum, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Broadcast: ESPN2, ESPN+ PPV (7pm/8pm/10pm EST)

UFC-253-Poster
Paulo Costa

Full betting odds released for UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa

Adam Martin - September 24, 2020

The full betting odds have been released for the 11 fights scheduled to take place Saturday’s UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa event. In the main event, UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya puts his title on the line against the undefeated contender from Brazil Paulo Costa. Adesanya is a perfect 8-0 in the UFC and Costa is 5-0 himself, so this a dream fight between two of the best middlweights in the sport in the prime of their careers who are unbeaten in the UFC.

Paulo Costa, Luke Rockhold
UFC

Paulo Costa refutes expectation that he will "chase" Israel Adesanya in the Octagon

Tom Taylor - September 24, 2020

Paulo Costa is refuting the widespread expectation that he’ll “chase” UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in their UFC 253 middleweight title fight. Costa is known as one of the most aggressive fighters in MMA, while Adesanya is known as a more defense-minded counter-striker. Given that, many fans expect Costa to follow his foe around the ring on fight night.

Paulo Costa
Paulo Costa

Paulo Costa surprised by Israel Adesanya’s “kind” and “gentle” demeanor during recent Fight Island run-in

Harry Kettle - September 24, 2020

UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa was surprised by Israel Adesanya’s kind and gentle approach to their run-in on Fight Island. The two men are set to battle it out for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 253 this weekend in one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year so far. Before they step into the Octagon and go to war, though, they also bumped into one another after they both arrived in Abu Dhabi for the event.

Israel Adesanya
Paulo Costa

Israel Adesanya believes "people are gonna be shocked" by how "easy" he will beat Paulo Costa

Cole Shelton - September 23, 2020

Israel Adesanya expects to beat Paulo Costa rather easily to defend his belt on Saturday night. In the main event of UFC 253, Adesanya and Costa will finally meet after months of trash-talking. They are both undefeted and many pundits expect the fight to be competitve. Yet, for “The Last Stylebender” he disagrees with that and believes it will be rather easy for him to dispose of the Brazilian.

Israel Adesanya, Paulo Costa
Israel Adesanya

UFC 253 | Pro fighters make their picks for Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa title fight

Cole Shelton - September 23, 2020

In the main event of UFC 253, Israel Adesanya is looking for his second title defense when he battles Paulo Costa. Heading into the fight, Adesanya is a -185 favorite while the Brazilian challenger is a +150 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their prediction for the scrap. The majority believe it will be Adesanya using his technical striking to piece up Costa and defending his belt.

Paulo-Costa
UFC

Video | Paulo Costa looks in amazing shape following "best weight cut ever" for UFC 253

Adam Martin - September 22, 2020

UFC middleweight Paulo Costa looks to be in amazing shape heading into UFC 253, with his manager calling it his “best weight cut ever.” Costa takes on UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in the main event of this Saturday’s UFC 253 pay-per-view card. The world’s leading MMA promotion returns to Fight Island in Abu Dhabi with this amazing contest as the headliner, a fight that UFC president Dana White has said is his personal pick for “Fight of the Year” in 2020.

Israel Adesanya, Paulo Costa
Paulo Costa

Video | Israel Adesanya, Paulo Costa meet on Fight Island

Adam D Martin - September 20, 2020

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and rival Paulo Costa met each other on Fight Island before their fight next weekend at UFC 253. Adesanya and Costa finally meet in the main event of UFC 253 on Fight Island. It’s one of the biggest fights of the year on paper and UFC president Dana White has even said it’s his personal choice for 2020 “Fight of the Year.” Adesanya and Costa do not like each other and this should be the ultimate grudge match between the two men.

Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker
Paulo Costa

Israel Adesanya claims UFC 253 opponent Paulo Costa is the dirtiest fighter in MMA

Adam Martin - September 17, 2020

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya says that his upcoming opponent at UFC 253, Paulo Costa, is the dirtiest fighter in MMA. Adesanya and Costa do not like each other and next Saturday at UFC 253 on Fight Island both men will finally get the chance to rip each other’s head off when they square off in the main event for the UFC middleweight title. The two rivals have been connected to a fight for the better part of a year now and UFC 253 is expected to be a massive event for the promotion, with UFC president Dana White calling it “Fight of the Year.”

Paulo Costa, Luke Rockhold
Paulo Costa

Coach says Paulo Costa wants to fight Jon Jones: "He can’t hide"

Tom Taylor - September 16, 2020

Eric Albarracin says his star pupil, upcoming UFC middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa, still wants to fight Jon Jones in the future. Costa is set to challenge Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight title in the main event of UFC 253 on September 26. Speaking to ESPN recently, Albarracin expressed his confidence that Costa will win that title fight, and also suggested that Costa could move up to the light heavyweight division in search of a fight with Jones thereafter.

Paulo Costa
UFC

Paulo Costa receives a visit from USADA ahead of UFC 253

Natasha Hooper - September 14, 2020

Paulo Costa received a surprise visit from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) ahead of his UFC 253 title fight. On September 26, “Borrachinha” will collide against the reigning middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya. The Brazilian title challenger’s ripped physique has been the target of some of Adesanya’s trash talk, as the champ accused him of being “juiced up to the f*cking gills.”

Israel Adesanya, UFC, Black Lives Matter
Paulo Costa

Israel Adesanya addresses video of Paulo Costa beating up a fake 'Stylebender'

Christopher Taylor - September 10, 2020

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has addressed the recent video released by his soon to be opponent Paulo Costa. Earlier this week the undefeated Brazilian took to social media where he shared a video of him beating up a ‘Stylebender’ impersonator.

Paulo Costa
Paulo Costa

Video | Paulo Costa flaunts his physique ahead of UFC 253 title fight with Israel Adesanya

Christopher Taylor - September 10, 2020

The most anticipated middleweight title fight in UFC history will take place later this month when Paulo Costa challenges Israel Adesanya on September 26. Both men will enter the UFC 253 headliner sporting perfect professional records and thus someone’s zero will have to go.

Israel Adesanya, Paulo Costa, Stephen Thompson
Paulo Costa

Stephen Thompson: Costa not a technical striker "at all" Adesanya will "have a field day"

Tom Taylor - September 10, 2020

Stephen Thompson believes UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will “have a field day” when he takes on hulking knockout artist Paulo Costa. Adesanya and Costa will collide for the UFC middleweight title in the main event of UFC 253 on September 26. Thompson, a striking specialist himself, believes the kickboxing transplant Adesanya will go to work on the powerful Costa when the cage door closes.

Paulo Costa
Paulo Costa

Paulo Costa doesn't want to beat Israel Adesanya quickly

Tom Taylor - September 10, 2020

Paulo Costa hopes to put a bit of a hurting on UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya when they step into the cage together at UFC 253. Once he’s done that—and sufficiently entertained the fans—he intends to put a stamp on things with yet another stoppage win.

Israel Adesanya, UFC 243, Dan Hooker
Paulo Costa

Israel Adesanya reveals simple strategy for Paulo Costa fight

Tom Taylor - September 4, 2020

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has a very simple strategy for his UFC 253 title defense against Paulo Costa: hit him until he falls. Adesanya was asked about his plans for the fight, which headlines the September 26th UFC 253 card, in an interview with SCMP MMA.

Israel Adesanya, UFC 243, Dan Hooker
Paulo Costa

Israel Adesanya shares an interesting theory regarding power punchers

Natasha Hooper - September 4, 2020

Israel Adesanya has his own theory on power punchers. The middleweight champion is set to defend his title for a second time in the main event of UFC 253 on Saturday, September 26. He will be facing off against Paulo Costa, who is currently undefeated and is known for being able to finish his opponents with his punching power. “Borrachinha” has finished a whopping nine out of 13 fights via knockout punches.