November 5, 2024

Israel Adesanya wants Octagon faceoff with Paulo Costa vs. Uriah Hall winner

Israel Adesanya fights Brad Tavares at the TUF 27 Finale.
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

Israel Adesanya has already plotted his next clash before even stepping into the Octagon with Brad Tavares for their The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale main event.

Last month, “The Last Stylebender” told FloCombat that he thought his next opponent would come out of the Uriah Hall vs. Paulo Thiago matchup.

Although he insisted that he’s not looking past middleweight stalwart Tavares, he said his longterm goals for his career go far beyond July 6 and even a UFC title.

“I’m not looking past what’s-his-name,” Adesanya told MMA Fighting. “Sorry, I had a brain fart — I’m not looking past Brad. They say to never underestimate anyone, but they don’t tell you to overestimate people either, so I’m just going to do me. Each guy is just another person that’s in the way. I have to plot my path to greatness. I don’t just think about the belt, I think past the belt. I’m far beyond all of that.”

Like Adesanya, Costa is an undefeated prospect known for his striking ability. He is confident that Tavares is an easier opponent than his last challenger, Marvin Vettori, but seems to think the Brazilian prospect has an even easier assignment in Hall.

“To be honest, Brad is going to be easier than my last fight. In my last fight I was able to read him on the fly, but Brad is a book that I’ve read so many times. It’s a test that I’ve passed many times. I really don’t see that being a tough fight for me.

“Uriah Hall, you ever play that game Tekken where you just button bash? I always think that’s what he looks like. He’s just button bashing and hoping something cool will come out of it.”

It isn’t just Hall’s striking style that Adesanya has a problem with:

“Someone sent me a few screenshots of some sh*t he was saying on Instagram recently. The guy is using my lines and he’s trying to take my clout. He’s a clout chaser, he’s an Instagram whore. After this fight, if he wins his fight, then I’ll make him famous.”

Adesanya will be in attendance at UFC 226 to see teammate Dan Hooker take on Gilbert Burns, and he plans to face off with the winner of the Costa vs. Hall matchup so they can “realize who they’re dealing with.”

“Dan Hooker is fighting at UFC 226 so I’m going to be right there yelling my ass off,” Adesanya said. “Whoever wins that fight, be it Paulo Costa or Uriah Hall, I’m standing in that cage and facing them. I want to see them and I want them to feel me right after they win. I was them to size me up and realize what they’re dealing with.”

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