There’s no question that the version of Paulo Costa who showed up to fight Israel Adesanya only bore a pale resemblance to the man that marched down Yoel Romero just a year previous. Costa looked something like a deer in the headlights on his way to a second round TKO loss to the ‘Last Stylebender’—having only attempted 26 strikes over almost two rounds of action.
Just why that is, however, is something of a mystery. Was it all down to Israel Adesanya’s years of kickboxing experience, good footwork, and rangy out-fighting tools? Was Costa caught up in the moment?