Wallid Ismail Says Paulo Costa Is Postponing Light Heavyweight Debut
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya defeated Paulo Costa by second-round TKO in the main event of UFC 253 and Costa’s manager Wallid Ismail was in attendance for the beat down.
Ismail says that Costa was planning to move up to light heavyweight, but those plans have been postponed so Costa can get revenge on Adesanya for the champion’s post-fight tactics.
“Adesanya is his focus,” Ismail said to MMA Fighting. “He was thinking about moving up in weight but won’t anymore because he wants to get Adesanya, and the UFC owes him that. He will stay [at 185] only to get Adesanya because he’s really upset, outraged with Adesanya’s post-fight attitude. He’s a bum. Warriors fight and when it’s over, it’s over. But doing that after the fight? He’s a bum, and he can expect a nightmare coming at him.”
Adesanya’s post-fight antics included a quick butt humping of Costa after the referee waved off the title fight. According to Ismail, Costa is fired up and he wants revenge on the middleweight champion.
“You can’t do that,” Ismail said. “‘Borrachinha’ is angry. It was disgusting, [Adesanya] showed his lack of character. Two warriors settle their issues in the fight, but he’s a bum. That’s the worst thing he could have done. (Costa) is pure anger right now.”
It could be a little while before Costa gets his revenge as Adesanya is expected to face Jared Cannonier, should he beat Robert Whittaker at UFC 254.
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