Adesanya, Costa trade barbs in heated interview
The rivalry between UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa continued Thursday night.
The two fighters exchanged verbal jabs in an interview on ESPN's SportsCenter ahead of their title bout, which will headline UFC 253 on Sept. 26.
Costa, the undefeated challenger, took issue with Adesanya's personality and how the champ promotes his fights.
"I don't like these kinds of (trash-talkers), and I believe the fans (don't) also," Costa said. "This sport don't need this kind of attitude. You don't need this to sell a good fight. You just need to go and make a good fight, not a boring fight, as he did in his last fight."
Costa then ripped Adesanya for his unanimous decision win over Yoel Romero at UFC 248 in March, which marked the New Zealander's first title defense after capturing the belt last year. Costa said he stood and waited for Romero, making for a lackluster contest, but Adesanya said it was his opponent who made the bout dull. Costa, meanwhile, beat Romero in one of 2019's best matches.
"I didn't stand there and wait," Adesanya said. "(Romero) stood there and (waited). I came to fight. ... Get your facts right."
Adesanya expressed excitement for their contest due to Costa's fighting style. However, the champion doesn't think it's the best strategy.
"He's dumb, and he walks forward, and he throws shots," Adesanya said of his opponent. "That's what makes this really exciting, and that's what I'm looking forward to. I'm looking forward to a big, inflated ignoramus running up on me, trying to throw shots as I keep moving and sticking him."
The Brazilian native seemed to compliment Adesanya's "good skills," but returned the insult instead.
"His best skill is running away," Costa said. "He avoids the fight. He's very good at that. ... The only thing more disturbing than his hair was his fight against Romero."
Adesanya ended the interview saying although he believes Costa is "dumb," he's also a dangerous foe.
"He's not scared to walk forward and just throw, and he's strong," Adesanya admitted.
"But the same thing happens when they step in the cage with me, when they see me and they feel me. They said, 'Oh my God, he's a lot stronger than I thought. Oh my God, he's a lot bigger than I thought.' Everybody says this when they see me or when they try to face me. This is nothing different."