‘Next big superstar’ Adesanya knocks out Costa to retain UFC title

By Nurudeen Obalola

NIGERIA-born Mixed Martial Arts middleweight champion Israel Adesanya dominated Paulo Costa and took just three minutes to win, via a technical knockout, one of the most anticipated fights in UFC history in the early hours of Sunday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

With the big win over previously undefeated Costa, Adesanya claimed his second successful UFC middleweight title defence. He is now tied with former middleweight champion Chris Weidman for the second-longest win streak in division history (nine), according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Anderson Silva is the all-time middleweight leader with 13 straight victories in the division.

UFC president Dana White praised Adesanya after the fight.
“He’s got his own style and his own way about him,” White said. “I think he’s gonna be the next big superstar here, especially after tonight’s performance.”

According to fight stats, Adesanya landed more significant strikes in less than two rounds on Sunday (55) than he did in the entire five-round battle with Romero six months ago (48).

“Trust me,” Adesanya said in his post-fight interview. “I had to make y’all remember. I had to remind the world why we the best.”

Adesanya repeatedly hit Costa’s lead leg with hard calf kicks from the first minute of the fight. Costa attempted to bait Adesanya in the first round, putting his hands behind his back and sticking out his tongue.

In the second round, Costa’s taunts had stopped but Adesanya’s attacks did not. Costa dropped after a brutal left hook, Adesanya got on top of him and landed punches on the ground until referee Jason Herzog called the fight.

New Zealand-based Adesanya (20-0) knocked out Robert Whittaker to unify the middleweight title at UFC 243 on Oct. 6, 2019. He was the interim champion before that. He has won all nine of his UFC fights.

Adesanya, 31, said after Saturday’s victory that he wanted to continue the middleweight legacy of Silva, the former 185-pound champion.

“I wanted to do service to the middleweight division, and that’s a hard act to follow,” Adesanya said.

Costa (13-1) had won all five of his UFC fights going in. The Brazilian fighter has finished 12 of his 13 career victories.