REIGNING UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has labeled his title defense against next title challenger, Paulo Costa as the biblical battle between David and Goliath, Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com reports.
A bumper UFC 253 card was announced last month and will be headlined September 26 by Adesanya (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and Costa (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in what's just the second time in the sport's history two undefeated male fighters will square off for a belt.
Costa's size advantage has been a major talking point in the early buildup to this fight. Last week the 29-year-old posted a video to social media where he claimed he had just passed the 220-pound barrier. While he will need to cut weight before the fight, many are expecting his superior power to worry Adesanya.
But when asked if Costa's size is a concern, the Nigeria-born fighter made it clear he's not at all bothered by it.
"Nope," he said. "I've fought at heavyweight in boxing and kickboxing and I plan on fighting in heavyweight in MMA at some point,” Adesanya told MMA Junkie during Tuesday’s UFC 253 virtual media day.
"Size makes a difference if you know how to use it. But they are always surprised when they step across the cage from me and they realise how long I am. They are always in for a rude awakening. I don't know why people think it's going to be a heavy factor. I'm used to this.
“What better antagonist than this guy, who was undefeated, a KO artist, he looks the way he does, ballooned up. It’s like David and Goliath. I (expletive) this guy up, and it’s just spectacular. As they say: Someone’s 0 has got to go. It’s a beautifully set up story. You couldn’t write this (expletive). You could, but it’s real.
"I think it's great for me because of the aesthetics. I'm the skinny person, the little frail kid, and he looks like the perfect antagonist. He's big, bulky, juiced to the f---ing gills and he's a guy who beats everyone on the fence. So when I come in there with some Bruce Lee s--- and f--- him up, the casuals are going to feed off it. It means more eyes, more attention. I love that."
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