“I will try to push him, to bring him to the fight, but if he avoid the fight I will not chase him all the time.”
Paulo Costa is one of the best pressure fighters in the UFC, but the Brazilian knockout artist will not resort to chasing Israel Adesanya around the octagon if ‘The Last Stylebender’ refuses to engage in this Saturday’s UFC 253 main event.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, the undefeated middleweight contender explained his strategy for Adesanya, who is widely considered to be one of the best counter strikers in the world.
“First of all, I think he’s a [counter-striker],” Costa said at the media day (h/t MMA Fighting’s Alexander K.Lee). “Everybody here saw when he fought Romero. If one guy doesn’t push him, he will not push out. He stood, the guy came for him.
“So I will try to push him, to bring him to the fight, but if he avoid the fight I will not chase him all the time. I will go back to the middle and cut the angles and try to make the fight happen.”
Many fans consider Costa to be a ruthless brawler and Adesanya a technical counter striker, but ‘Borrachinha’ wants to prove that he’s much more technical than pundits give him credit for.
“That’s exactly what I try to show to everybody, but the people have some thoughts that he’s the sniper and I’m just the tough guy who throw heavy punches but I’m not,” Costa said. “My punches have ‘the correct address to arrive.’”
UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa is scheduled to take place on Sept. 27 on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
