Reigning UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has fired an early shot at his next title challenger, Paulo Costa, saying the Brazilian needs to learn to shut his mouth.
A bumper UFC 253 card was announced last month and will be headlined Sept. 26 by Adesanya and Costa in what's just the second time in the sport's history two undefeated male fighters will square off for a belt.
The trash-talking started early, with Costa mocking Adesanya's thin frame and what he believes to be a lack of power. Now the champ has hit back with some words of advice.
"He might need a filter because he says some real dumb s--- sometimes," Adesanya said of Costa during a video conference call with a group of reporters. "Maybe he should put a filter on sometimes, [because] after I knock him out I'm just going to carry on with my day."
A fight with Costa has been on Adesanya's radar for over two years. The New Zealander initially called out Costa after defeating Brad Tavares at "The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale" in 2018, but UFC boss Dana White wasn't going for it.
Neither fighter was yet to reach his potential, and White knew that a little bit of patience could eventually make this one of the most anticipated fights of the year.
"Me and Costa have been two of the rising forces in the UFC," Adesanya said. "It was going to take a while to build us up as our own entities and then have a superfight, like we are now. Remember when he said he doesn't know who I am? Well, you know who I am now."
By the time the pair step into the Octagon, it will be six months since Adesanya earned a unanimous decision win over Yoel Romero. However, it was a rather lacklustre performance, and many still feel Romero did enough to earn the nod from the judges.
But a recharged Adesanya has warned Costa that his off night was exactly what he needed and has him in a better place for his upcoming fight.
"This is perfect. What I was expecting from my last fight is going to happen in this fight," Adesanya said. "In my story, you can't just have it going great. You need a dip. You need a valley when things go s---. That was me for my last fight after the performance Romero brought. I'd never been in a boring fight in my life but that was a dip. This is the rise back and what better antagonist than this guy.
"I think it's great for me because of the aesthetics. I'm the skinny person, the little frail kid, and he looks like the perfect antagonist. He's big, bulky, juiced to the f---ing gills and he's a guy who beats everyone on the fence. So when I come in there with some Bruce Lee s--- and f--- him up, the casuals are going to feed off it. It means more eyes, more attention. I love that."
Costa's size advantage has been a major talking point in the early buildup to this fight. Last week the 29-year-old posted a video to social media where he claimed he had just passed the 220-pound barrier. While he will need to cut weight before the fight, many are expecting his superior power to worry Adesanya.
But when asked if Costa's size is a concern, Adesanya made it clear he's not at all bothered by it.
"Nope," he said. "I've fought at heavyweight in boxing and kickboxing and I plan on fighting in heavyweight in MMA at some point.
"Size makes a difference if you know how to use it. But they are always surprised when they step across the cage from me and they realise how long I am. They are always in for a rude awakening. I don't know why people think it's going to be a heavy factor. I'm used to this."