Paulo Costa says he was surprised by Israel Adesanya’s demeanour during their hotel run-in earlier this week, as he vowed not to let the champion dictate their headline title fight at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi.
The two undefeated fighters square off in a blockbuster bout in the capital on Sunday, which concludes the first of five events at Fight Island 2 on Yas Island. It marks only the second time in UFC history that two unbeaten rivals do battle for a belt.
The pair has been involved in a heated build-up to the clash, with barbs and insults traded on social media and in interviews. Even without that, UFC president Dana White has tipped the encounter to be fight of the year.
However, it seemed a different story between the duo earlier this week, when Adesanya and Costa bumped into one another in their hotel on Yas Island. A video sent out on social media by Costa's team appeared to show the rivals sharing warm words, although Adesanya later told The National that he was simply "sizing up" his opponent.
Speaking to media on Wednesday night, Costa said: “I don’t know what happened, because he changed a lot his personality, his persona. Because the Adesanya that I saw on a video conference was a very disrespectful guy; he show his [middle fingers] all the time to me.
“But when I met him upstairs, he was very kind, very [gentlemanly]. When I saw him I was waiting for a different kind of guy. For him, he came and he gave his hand to shake his hand and he asked me, ‘How are you feeling? Feeling good?’ ‘Okay, I’m good.’ He said, ‘You look very good.’ So it’s OK. If he changed, OK.”
On a cursory level at least, the fight pits against one another two vastly contrasting styles, with Adesanya, 31, viewed as the more technical combatant and Costa, 29, seen to offer raw power. The Brazilian is known for his highlight-reel knockouts.
Costa, whose record in professional mixed martial arts stands at 13-0, recently taunted Adesanya for running from opponents inside the octagon. The Nigerian-born athlete (19-0) was heavily criticised for a lack of action in his most recent bout, when he sealed a unanimous decision in a lacklustre contest against Yoel Romero in February.
Although, that won’t necessarily mean Costa will charge at the champion come Sunday.
UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi
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Kamaru Usman of Nigeria celebrates after his victory over Jorge Masvidal in their welterweight championship fight during the UFC 251 event on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi in July 2020. Getty -
Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal talk after their fight. Getty -
Jorge Masvidal punches Kamaru Usman. Getty -
Jorge Masvidal punches Kamaru Usman. Getty -
Alexander Volkanovski of Australia celebrates after his split-decision victory over Max Holloway in their UFC featherweight bout. Getty -
Max Holloway kicks Alexander Volkanovski. Getty -
Petr Yan of Russia celebrates after his TKO victory over Jose Aldo in their UFC bantamweight fight. Getty -
Petr Yan of Russia elbows Jose Aldo of Brazil. Getty -
Petr Yan punches Jose Aldo. Getty -
Rose Namajunas celebrates after her split-decision victory over Jessica Andrade in their strawweight fight. Getty -
Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade trade punches. Getty -
Rose Namajunas lands a punch on Jessica Andrade. Getty -
Amanda Ribas of Brazil celebrates after her victory over Paige VanZant in their flyweight fight. Getty -
Paige VanZant knees Amanda Ribas. Getty -
Amanda Ribas kicks Paige VanZant. Getty -
Jiri Prochazka of the Czech Republic celebrates after his knockout victory over Volkan Oezdemir in their light heavyweight fight. Getty -
Jiri Prochazka and Volkan Oezdemir exchange blows. Getty -
Volkan Oezdemir of Switzerland punches Jiri Prochazka. Getty -
Muslim Salikhov of Russia reacts after his decision victory over Brazil's Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos in their welterweight fight. Getty -
Muslim Salikhov punches Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. Getty -
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos Brazil punches Muslim Salikhov. Getty -
Makwan Amirkhani of Finland after his win over Danny Henry in their featherweight fight. Getty -
Makwan Amirkhani after his submission victory over Danny Henry. Getty -
Makwan Amirkhani secures an anaconda choke submission against Danny Henry. Getty -
Leonardo Santos of Brazil reacts after his decision victory over Russia's Roman Bogatov in their lightweight fight. Getty -
Leonardo Santos punches Roman Bogatov. Getty -
Roman Bogatov and Leonardo Santos trade punches. Getty -
Roman Bogatov kicks Leonardo Santos. Getty -
Marcin Tybura of Poland celebrates after defeating Russia's Maxim Grishin in their heavyweight fight. Getty -
Maxim Grishin punches Marcin Tybura. Getty -
Maxim Grishin punches Marcin Tybura. Getty -
Marcin Tybura grapples with Maxim Grishin. Getty -
Brazil's Raulian Paiva after his decision victory over Zhalgas Zhumagulov of Kazakhstan in their flyweight fight. Getty -
Zhalgas Zhumagulov punches Raulian Paiva. Getty -
Zhalgas Zhumagulov punches Raulian Paiva. Getty -
Raulian Paiva punches Zhalgas Zhumagulov. Getty -
Brazil's Karol Rosa celebrates after her victory over countrywoman Vanessa Melo in their bantamweight fight. Getty -
Karol Rosa of Brazil before the fight on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Erica Elkhershi / The National -
Karol Rosa punches Vanessa Melo. Getty -
Karol Rosa punches Vanessa Melo. Getty -
Vanessa Melo punches Karol Rosa. Getty -
Davey Grant of England after his knockout victory over countryman Martin Day in their bantamweight fight. Getty -
Davey Grant punches Martin Day. Getty -
Martin Day kicks Davey Grant. Getty -
Davey Grant launches a flying knee against Martin Day. Getty -
A general view of the Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island prior to the UFC 251 event on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Erica Elkhershi / The National -
A general view of the Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island prior to the UFC 251 event on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Erica Elkhershi / The National -
A general view of the Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island prior to the UFC 251 event on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Getty Images / Zuffa LLC -
A general view of the Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island prior to the UFC 251 event on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. John McAuley / The National -
A general view of the Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island prior to the UFC 251 event on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. John McAuley / The National
“First of all, I think he’s a [counter-striker],” he said. “Everybody here saw when he fought Romero. If one guy doesn’t push him, he will not push out. He stood, the guy came for him.
“So I will try to push him, to bring him to the fight. But, if he avoids the fight, I will not chase him all the time. I will go back to the middle and cut the angles and try to make the fight happen.”
