UFC 253 was touted as one of the best cards of 2020 thus far, and it certainly lived up to those expectations...
Israel Adesanya's Dissection of Paulo Costa Proves Why He's UFC's Best Right Now
Sep 27, 2020
Nigeria's Israel Adesanya poses as he fights Brazil's Anderson Silva in their middleweight bout at the UFC 234 event in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
Strength isn't always measured in muscles. Power isn't always assessed by size.
Or at least they shouldn't be. And you want to know how I know that? Because I just watched Israel Adesanya dismantle a far bigger, substantially stronger and considerably more lantern-jawed opponent in Paulo Costa in the main event of Saturday's UFC 253. Adesanya (20-0) used leg kicks early on to hobble Costa (13-1) before swooping in for a violent TKO at 3:59 of the second round.
"I told you guys. Anderson Silva left a great legacy, and I said I want to do service to the middleweight division," Adesanya told broadcaster Jon Anik after the fight. "That's a hard act to follow. But we're doing the work, right?"
Adesanya is correct in suggesting that Silva's 10 middleweight title defenses probably won't be a realistic goal anytime soon. But that doesn't mean he can't be the best in the UFC right now. And I don't just mean at middleweight—I mean the whole operation.
THE BEEF IS REAL 😤
Things get personal as Costa taunts Adesanya with a white belt at weigh-ins.
The champ was his usual self, all fast-twitch grace and thousand-mile glares. But a narrative of lopsided domination does a disservice to Costa, who was in the bout for a good one to two minutes before Adesanya really started to take control.
Adesanya's kicks to the thigh and knee of Costa were making hay from the get-go. Costa, who's normally associated with punches, has some pretty underrated kicks of his own. On Saturday, he used them to sting the champ's legs and solar plexus.
But Adesanya has kicks too. Damage piled up, and Costa seemed to become more preoccupied with taunting his opponent into a brawl than working. The kicks also helped the champ manage distance so Costa couldn't get close enough to go into a frenzy. With that possibility subdued, Adesanya nabbed the round on any normal person's scorecard.
To start the second, both fighters had serious welts on their legs. You could see a series of large purple splotches up and down Costa's leg. The fight's first big firework came halfway through the round, and it was Adesanya who supplied it. A head kick slammed home, and Costa wobbled back. The announcers let out a collective bellow. In any normal time, that kick would have blown the roof off.
Costa somehow stayed upright—the man does have a chin on him—but a cut had opened somewhere near his hairline, and blood began to trickle.
Adesanya smelled that blood, unwinding his defensive coil to press the action. A punch combination slammed home, and Costa hit the mat. The champ swarmed with punches and elbows (did one or two of those get the back of the head?), and then got into mount. Costa was not in great shape at this point, and he rolled away from the action, precipitating the TKO stoppage.
So who's next, Champ? After beginning his post-fight remarks with talk of Silva and The Legacy of the Middleweight Division and whatnot, fans might have wondered whether an announcement about a potential move up to light heavyweight was coming. But then you remember that, with Jon Jones now departed from the division, that grass probably isn't looking so green these days.
Adesanya did have a callout back at middleweight: Jared Cannonier. That is, Adesanya said, if Cannonier (13-4) defeats ex-champ Robert Whittaker next month at UFC 254.
"I love his energy," Adesanya said of Cannonier. "He's a beautiful, beautiful man. ... He's the one I want to fight next."
The fight makes sense on paper. Cannonier, at No. 3, is the highest-ranked middleweight not to have faced Adesanya. After that, the choices are limited. If Adesanya faces and defeats Cannonier, the remaining top-10 fighters he hasn't faced include Jack Hermansson, Darren Till, Chris Weidman and Uriah Hall. Those are very good fighters, but none would seem to have the formula to threaten Adesanya.
But that's a problem for another day. There will be no shortage of willing bodies, because a date with Adesanya is starting to look like a winning lottery ticket. His main events are big business, and he has all the so-called intangibles.
The UFC has to be looking at him that way as well, particularly with Conor McGregor now off doing whatever it is he's doing.
And there's the crux of the matter: If McGregor isn't coming back, who does the UFC have as the face of its franchise, so to speak? To my way of thinking, in the current landscape, it's Adesanya or no one.
We're not thinking just of fighting skills, but the whole package it takes to make a star. By that metric, Adesanya is the UFC's best as we sit here now after watching another surgical strike from the UFC's newest doctor of doom. Adesanya may not be the biggest cat, but he's looking bigger by the day.
UFC 253 Fight Card: PPV Schedule, Odds and Predictions for Adesanya vs. Costa
Alex Ballentine
Sep 26, 2020
Israel Adesanya gestures while atop a scale during weigh-ins ahead of his mixed martial arts middleweight bout against Derek Brunson at UFC 230, Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The UFC may just have a blockbuster on its hands with the middleweight matchup between Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa. At least that's what the organization is hoping with the two undefeated men fighting for The Last Stylebender's middleweight title.
Combat sports is filled with potentially great fights that either never materialized or didn't happen at the right time. However, Adesanya vs. Costa are meeting with unblemished records with both squarely in their primes. Both have made their names by being knockout artists with contrasting styles, and they've spent plenty of time jawing at one another to add an extra level to the rivalry.
The light heavyweight belt is also up for grabs Saturday. With Jon Jones vacating the title, it will be either Dominick Reyes or Jan Blachowicz who kicks off the post-Jones era with the championship.
Main Card (ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET)
Israel Adesanya -186 ($186 bet wins $100) vs. Paulo Costa +151 ($100 bet wins $150)—middleweight championship fight
Jan Blachowicz +215 vs. Dominick Reyes -265—light heavyweight championship fight
Israel Adesanya has fought some powerful strikers in his career. Robert Whittaker, Yoel Romero and even the old version of Anderson Silva that he defeated all had fight-changing power, but Adesanya was able to avoid big shots from all three.
Costa is a different challenge, though. While all three of those opponents either look to counter or are conservative strikers, Costa has made his reputation as a striker on sheer volume. He pushes an incredible pace for someone of his stature.
The Eraser will rip shots to the body and head in combinations until he takes his opponent's will. Where the fight takes place will be something to keep tabs on. Costa is going to want to back Adesanya up the cage, but it is in the champion's best interest to circle out and force things to take place in the middle of the Octagon, where multiple escape routes are available to him.
Adesanya's kicking game gives him an advantage in that regard. Costa will throw high kicks, but his kicking isn't as nuanced as the champion's.
If Costa can find a way to corner Adesanya, he could spring the small upset. If Adesanya is able to control the pace and distance at which the fight takes place, though, he will retain in perhaps the most impressive win of his career.
Prediction: Adesanya via decision
Can Reyes Establish Light Heavyweight Dominance?
The light heavyweight division hasn't been a bastion of parity in recent UFC history. Jon Jones has essentially held the title for as long as his behavior outside of the cage would allow him. The only other man to hold the title over the better part of a decade is Daniel Cormier.
That will come to an end Saturday night, as Cormier is retired and Jones is eyeing a move to the heavyweight division.
For many, Dominick Reyes is already the uncrowned champion of the division. His fight against Jones was as close as a decision can get, with the Devastator getting the better of Bones at several points in the bout.
In Blachowicz, he faces a much different challenge. Reyes showcased his ability to win a kickboxing match at range against Jones. The former champ is the greatest fighter of all time at that range, and he was still able to win the fight, even if the decision was hotly debated.
The Polish contender won't look to fight at that range, though. He wants to move into boxing distance and unleash his power.
Reyes' athleticism could be the deciding factor in this one. He's good enough to fight off his back foot and force Blachowicz to come after him. If he's able to do that and avoid the big shot, he'll score a decisive decision win.
Prediction: Reyes via decision
Can Kai Kara-France or Brandon Royval Make the Flyweight Division Interesting?
It's felt like the flyweight division has been in danger since Demetrious Johnson was traded to ONE FC. It was an unprecedented move that seemed like a death knell to a division that has rarely carried a pay-per-view card or garnered much attention.
Even the height of Henry Cejudo's popularity came when he moved up to 135 pounds to become Triple C.
Now the division moves on, with one of the biggest fights it can make a bout between current champion Deiveson Figueiredo and career bantamweight Cody Garbrandt. That's not a great sign for the weight class.
What would help is if the division could generate its own interesting challengers, so the flyweight bout between Kai Kara-France and Brandon Royval becomes an interesting component to the main card.
Royval caught attention with a submission win over Tim Elliott in his first UFC fight. Now he makes his second appearance on pay-per-view as the lead-in to a championship doubleheader.
He'll play the role of underdog to the more experienced Kara-France. The 27-year-old is 4-1 in five UFC appearances, with his only loss coming at the hands of Brandon Moreno, who is a future title challenger in his own right.
This is a classic matchup of striker vs. grappler. Kara-France is the superior kickboxer and should win on points if he manages to keep the fight upright. However, Royval is a slick submission artist, and it could take just one trip to the ground for him to score the submission.
Prediction: Royval via second-round submission
UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa Fight Card, TV Info, Predictions and More
Alex Ballentine
Sep 26, 2020
Israel Adesanya reacts after defeating Derek Brunson during the first round of a middleweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 230, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
UFC 253 on Saturday features one of the best main events of the year in Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa. The historic middleweight title fight promises fireworks and is enough to make it one of the biggest pay-per-view events on the calendar.
That isn't the only reason to tune in, though. The light heavyweight division will officially move beyond the Jon Jones era when Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz scrap to crown a new champion after Bones vacated his title to move up to the heavyweight division.
It is a significant night for both divisions. The main event will mark the first time two undefeated fighters have fought for the middleweight belt. And it's the first time someone not named Daniel Cormier or Jon Jones will be light heavyweight champion since 2011.
The rest of the card might lack star power, but there are still some fun fights scheduled to go down. Here's a look at the complete card, the latest odds and predictions.
Main Card (ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET)
Israel Adesanya -182 ($182 bet wins $100) vs. Paulo Costa +150 ($100 bet wins $150)—middleweight championship fight
Jan Blachowicz +230 vs. Dominick Reyes -286—light heavyweight championship fight
The middleweight clash between Adesanya and Costa is an exciting fight in every way possible. There's personal animosity, there's a good bit of accomplishment between the two (both are undefeated) and, to top it all off, it's an interesting stylistic matchup.
Both are knockout artists. Adesanya has earned 14 of his 19 MMA wins by way of knockout, not to mention several knockouts as a professional kickboxer. Costa doesn't have the professional striking background, but he's shown power to burn with 11 knockouts in 13 wins with a submission to boot.
Yet both find those finishes in contrasting ways. Costa overwhelms with volume and is a throwback to the Brazilian Vale Tudo fighters like Shogun Rua and Vitor Belfort. Adesanya, meanwhile, brings a little more finesse to his game. He will strike from range, utilize his footwork to keep the fight where he wants it and answer offense with precise counterstriking.
The biggest difference between the two statistically stands out when it comes to defense. Adesanya is a tough target to nail down. He has 65 percent striking defense and only absorbs 2.4 significant strikes per minute. Compared to Costa's 53 percent and 6.84 strikes absorbed, the Last Stylebender is practically in the Matrix defensively.
Costa is capable of turning out the lights at any point. However, he hasn't had to push that pace for five rounds. He's only been outside of the second round once in his career —against Yoel Romero in his most recent fight. Adesanya is a much bigger challenge.
As long as the champion can get on his bike and avoid the early knockout, he could take over this fight in the championship rounds. This could be an instant classic as the chess game of the combatants' contrasting styles unfold.
However, the advantage lies with Adesanya in a five-round fight.
Prediction: Adesanya via decision.
Reyes Outpoints Blachowicz
The co-main event between Reyes and Blachowicz has some of the same dynamics as the main event. Reyes, like Adesanya, is the more complete striker. However, Blachowicz's power alone can make things interesting.
Reyes doesn't have the prodigious striking of Adesanya, but his narrow defeat to Jones in February showcased a strong kickboxing game. Going against the longest fighter in the history of the sport, he had no problem holding his own in the ranged striking game.
Blachowicz isn't a bad striker in his own right. He leans more on a pure boxing approach, but his hands have the ability to turn a fight at a moment's notice.
The 37-year-old has won seven of his past eight fights, including victories over Corey Anderson, Jacare Souza and Luke Rockhold in his past three fights. Two of those wins came by way of knockout, showcasing the power that gives Blachowicz a shot in this fight.
The Polish contender has a noteworthy ground game as well. He has nine submission wins in his career, but Reyes' takedown defense is difficult to navigate, and both fighters prefer to keep the fight standing.
In a bout that figures to be a kickboxing match the majority of the time, the more well-rounded striker holds the advantage. If Reyes can mix in kicks and control the range while staying away from the big punch that could end the fight, he will hold the advantage over five rounds.
Prediction: Reyes via decision.
Royval Upsets Kara-France
Brandon Royval made a splash in his UFC debut and stands to make an even bigger statement on a pay-per-view main card in just his second fight.
As Royval told Farah HannounandNolan King of MMA Junkie, this is his first bout since he's been a full-time fighter, allowing him to completely throw himself into a fight camp. That makes his debut submission win over Tim Elliott even more impressive.
Despite this, Royval comes in as an underdog, and it isn't hard to figure out why. Kai Kara-France is a strong striker with good takedown defense. However, he isn't untouchable in that regard. He has been taken down by Mark De La Rosa and Elias Garcia.
Royval is better than both of them and is bringing the right mindset to the fight.
"I see it going a million different ways," Royval told MMA Junkie. "I don't see it necessarily playing out a specific way, but I definitely see me overwhelming him a little bit."
As long as Royval doesn't just hunt for the takedown, the opportunities to drag his opponent to the mat will come. With all of the volume Kara-France will put forward, there will be opportunities to catch him off balance and land some takedowns.
If that happens, then it is Royval's fight to lose. He has won his past three fights by submission, with two coming by way of armbar.
Royval doesn't have to take down his opponent every round. He just needs to do it once. And it's hard to see Kara-France avoiding that for all three rounds.
Sometimes it’s easy. Sometimes it’s hard. Regardless, as a big UFC pay-per-view nears, the B/R combat sports team brainstorms ways the main event underdog can pull off an upset...
UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa Odds, Schedule, Predictions and Fight Hype
Alex Ballentine
Sep 24, 2020
Nigeria's Israel Adesanya poses as he fights Brazil's Anderson Silva in their middleweight bout at the UFC 234 event in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa have a rare opportunity ahead of them as the headliners of UFC 253 on Saturday night.
The list of championship fights in which both fighters were undefeated going into the fight is incredibly short. The first came in 2009, when an undefeated Lyoto Machida fought Rashad Evans for the light heavyweight championship. The second came when Ronda Rousey was upset by an undefeated Holly Holm in 2015.
So when someone says the Adesanya vs. Costa fight has the potential to be an all-timer, it's not just promotional fluff.
The two knockout artists have been the most exciting prospects in the middleweight division for a while. Adesanya has completed his ascension to titleholder; now it's time for him to establish a rivalry with a contemporary.
The epic middleweight title matchup isn't the only reason to tune in, though. The light heavyweight division will have a champion other than Jon Jones or Daniel Cormier for the first time since 2011. Bones vacated his title in August to pursue a run in the heavyweight division, so Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz will battle for the right to lead a new era in the division.
Here's a look at the whole card along with the latest odds and predictions for the biggest fights.
Main Card (ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET)
Israel Adesanya -182 ($182 bet wins $100) vs. Paulo Costa +150 ($100 bet wins $150)—middleweight championship fight
Jan Blachowicz +230 vs. Dominick Reyes -286—light heavyweight championship fight
The stylistic clash between Costa and Adesanya is a tale as old as time.
The challenger plays the role of pressure-fighting maniac. He pushes one of the highest paces of any fighter with 8.43 significant strikes per minute, even if it means taking a few on the chin (6.84 per minute).
In the other corner is a calculating striker and, thanks to his professional kickboxing background, finely tuned sniper. Adesanya is a more aggressive version of Anderson Silva, generating his knockout power from well-timed, accurate shots with devastating results.
The dynamic that will determine the course of this fight is just how well Costa can pressure Adesanya without exposing himself to counters. It's something he seems to understand as the fight day approaches.
"If I just went there and stood in front of Adesanya the way [Yoel] Romero did, it would be the exact same fight, and who would want to see that?" he told Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports. "I'm a guy who you know is going to bring the fight, but I'm not going to do it like a dumb man and just go run at him. No. That's not going to happen."
The specific use of "dumb" is significant here, as it is a rebuttal to one of Adesanya's criticisms of him. It's part of the long history between the fighters that will make Saturday's clash even more interesting.
Two undefeated fighters with knockout power who do not like each other 😤
A "skinny clown" An "overly-inflated balloon animal"
Ultimately, distance and pace will be the two deciding factors in the fight. If Adesanya can use his mobility and footwork to cut good angles, slow down the fight and turn it into a chess match, he will prevail. If Costa can push his usual pace and turn this into a brawl, then things favor the Brazilian.
The likely outcome is we get a little bit of both in a fight that lives up to the hype.
Prediction: Adesanya via decision.
Reyes Focused on Long Light Heavyweight Title Reign
After a razor-thin decision loss to Jon Jones in February, it would be understandable if Dominick Reyes had a hard time letting go of the fact that he isn't likely to get a rematch. After all, he's come as close as anyone to handing Jones his first legitimate loss.
But that doesn't appear to be the case. He insists he's preparing to not only win the vacant championship Saturday but also hold on to his new belt for a long time.
"I'm going to be the baddest light heavyweight on the planet when I perform," Reyes said, per Damon Martin of MMA Fighting. "My next performance is going to speak for itself. It won't matter. I'm at the point where I don't give a flying 'F' about what anybody says about anything. I love performing."
Reyes moving on from his loss to Jones will be important. In that fight, he showed he's the most skilled fighter in the division now that Jones is gone. But Blachowicz is a dangerous opponent and a live underdog.
We last saw him in the cage with Corey Anderson, whom he knocked out in the first round at Fight Night 167 in February. His lone loss in the past three years came against Thiago Santos, who has some of the best power in the division.
Blachowicz is also a dangerous fighter on the ground. He holds nine submission wins in his career. While he's only had two under the UFC banner, it represents an advantage over Reyes, although his takedown defense could nullify that aspect of the fight.
The Polish contender has serious power, so this fight could turn at any minute. However, it's hard not to like what Reyes brings to the table after his fight with Jones. This could be another tightly contested battle, and the fact that Reyes has been through the fire with the best to do it in the weight class bodes well.
This month's UFC pay-per-view card can't be missed. UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya faces unbeaten contender Paulo Costa in what should be one of the best title fights of the year...
Israel Adesanya Would Like to Share Some Self-Care Tips for the Pandemic Era
Sep 23, 2020
Israel Adesanya reacts after defeating Derek Brunson by technical knockout during the first round of a middleweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 230, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Israel Adesanya may be the UFC middleweight champion. But that doesn't mean he's not a human being. And being a human being, he is just as adrift as everyone else on the scuzzy cruise ship that is the year 2020.
It's enough to make a person feel a little battered, from the inside out. But take heart. Adesanya is here to help. I somehow convinced him in a recent phone interview to share some self-care tips—tips that I now share with you, the reader, at no cost or obligation. This is quite a deal.
Because you see, Adesanya is more than his UFC title and cinema-grade striking skills. He's a thoughtful cat, one in tune with himself and the world around him. With Adesanya, training and learning don't end in the gym.
Adesanya (left) kicks Anderson Silva
The notion of self-care is particularly hilarious here, of course, because Adesanya isn't exactly prototypical of someone who favors that mindset. You know, being an MMA fighter and all. And certainly not as Adesanya (19-0) prepared for his second title defense at Saturday's UFC 253 main event against headhunter and beach movie extra Paulo Costa (13-0).
You know these two are going to want to finish each other, and there's not a lot of ambiguity over where the fight will take place. Even before you get to Adesanya's 15 MMA knockouts, there are the 29 he notched as a kickboxer. Costa has 11 wins by knockout, with his August win over Yoel Romero being Costa's only pro fight to go the distance.
"But one I like better is that Costa has either knocked down or knocked out every opponent he’s faced inside the Octagon while Adesanya has twice as many knockdowns, knockouts, and what FightMetric calls “Damage” rounds (16 total) as he does bouts in the UFC (8).
"This should be a mostly standup affair and predominantly contested at distance where Adesanya and Costa respectively spend 4:03 and 4:33 of every five minutes. Neither has ever even attempted a takedown shot at distance, and in the clinch they’ve only combined to attempt a total of four takedowns, not completing any of them."
I'm not sure how Adesanya puts the threat out of his head, but that's exactly the point. You could probably do worse for a self-care consultant than someone whose job depends on keeping bad thoughts away. Is he a doctor, or any sort of trained professional in these areas? No. But he is a fighter, and sometimes that's enough.
Bleacher Report: You like a good TV binge. What are you watching?
Adesanya: I'm watching Westworld, which is pretty cool. It had a slow start, so not until about Episode 6 did it get crazy and the plot twists started. That's what I like. I like plot twists. And a deep story.
Bleacher Report: The world is crazy right now, for everybody. I'm sure it's particularly crazy for you as you get ready for the fight. What are your tips for staying calm?
Adesanya: I like earthing, and I like just breathing, regulate the sympathetic nervous system.
Breathing and the nervous system can put you in balance. It's kind of like meditating, only it's mainly breathing patterns. I like box breathing. It means, I don't know how to explain it. Box breathing. Google it.
Bleacher Report: Things seem to happen so fast nowadays. What's your tip for not getting overwhelmed?
Adesanya: For me a simple thing is just logging out of my Instagram. There's so much sadness out there. People are dying. There was so much sadness with [the death of film star Chadwick Boseman] and with Black people getting shot. So just logging out, I think it's a good practice.
We're all addicted to our phones and our social media. So I have to stop it and keep going. I have to turn stuff off, turn notifications off. I don't want to have to interact. There's no need to see everything people are saying all the time.
Bleacher Report: Do you have some special place you go when you want to disappear for a while?
Adesanya: I do have a safe space where I can just chill, but I'm going to keep that place to myself. I'm constructing a haven right now; a compound. I'll be able to chill here when it's done. ... [Yes] it's a house. It's on a big piece of land. I only have my dogs now but I want more animals: alpaca, pigs, chicken coop. So, yeah.
After a long string of events out of the Apex facility in Las Vegas, the UFC is now taking its show back on the road with five straight events on "Fight Island"—that's Yas Island in Abu Dhabi , if you didn't already know...
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has enjoyed an incredible run in the sport, but the 31-year-old will face his toughest test to date at UFC 253 against 29-year-old Brazilian powerhouse Paulo Costa...
