UFC middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa declared victory over Israel Adesanya after an ESPN interview and predicted a violent finish against a champ whom he said “freezes” against top competition.
“I have just one question, Adesanya, why were you frozen when you faced [Yoel] Romero?” he told Submission Radio. “You are not a real champion, man, you don’t deserve it. I will kill you.”
Costa mocked Adesanya’s display of an award during the ESPN interview, which took place this past week and saw sparks between the middleweights. The 29-year-old Brazilian said his work getting into the champ’s head was already done, adding Adesanya is “a bunch messed up in his mind for this fight.