Dana White Says Costa Out For 8 Months, Adesanya’s Next Fight In The Works

UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya became the undisputed champion at UFC 243 when he defeated Robert Whittaker by second round knockout.

The newly crowned champion was expecting to face Paulo Costa next, but UFC President Dana White says that Costa just had surgery and could be out for up to eight months.

“He had surgery on his bicep, so he’s out for eight months,” White said to The Schmo (via Nolan King of MMA Junkie). “But we are working on something else with Israel right now.”

If White’s timeline is accurate, it means that Costa could be back in action by the summer of 2020.

A rivalry has also been growing between Adesanya and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, but White says that bout doesn’t make sense at this time.

“He just won the title,” White said. “To do a Jones superfight right now doesn’t make sense. There are guys in his own weight division that he could fight.”

It is unknown at this time as to Adesanya will defend the gold against next, but #5 ranked Jared Cannonier is the only fighter ranked in the UFC Middleweight Division top five that hasn’t challenged for an interim or world title in the last year-plus.