MAFB: UFC 253 Adesanya vs Costa

Well, well, well how the turntables turn. Who knew that the best base for MMA is hundreds of fights worth of experience rather than b-b-b-bulking into the next Valdir Segato. Israel Adesanya silenced many of his doubters and reclaimed the casual masses after delivering a stonking two-round melting of Paulo Costa. I mean, let us give the big lad some credit. On the losing end of every exchange on social media and at the press conferences, Adesanya was under the cosh with his reputation on the line. The man even had his earing called out, albeit, politely, as Costa said he saw his own mother in Israel. Months of banter is fabulous motivation it would seem, as Adesanya’s striking looked as polished and refined as it ever has in the octagon. A true champions performance.

The rest of the card was pretty eh. Reyes vs Błachowicz was one-note until Reyes decided to lunge into the pocket and walk straight onto the Polish power. Congrats to Jan, though. That is a man who has plugged away hard in the background for large stretches of his career. Wheres Corey Anderson at… I need to hear a “THERE ARE LEVELS TO THIS”. Elsewhere, Brandon Royval established himself as more than a one-fight wonder. Going toe-to-toe with Kai Kara-France on the feet, Royval eventually submitted him with a brutal guillotine in the second round. Brad Riddell also looked fabulous in the closing stages of his bout. Elderly newcomer, Alex da Silva, sprung a few surprises in the first round with some explosive grappling exchanges but Riddell dominated the closing stretch.

Possibly the biggest surprise of the night was Diego Sanchez’s performance. Sanchez’s striking was abysmal; random potshots and weird spinning backfists after his shadowboxing exchanges. What was comforting for Sanchez fans, however, was his work off of the back. Continually looking for submissions and attempting to land cutting elbows on the forehead of Jake Matthews, Sanchez was a real menace on the mat. Of course, Sanchez should be nowhere near the octagon, but it was comforting that Sanchez was not slumped ala Matt Brown style again.

Israel Adesanya vs Paulo Costa (Adesanya def. Costa // TKO Round 2 3:59)

Adesanya may have executed one of the finest championship gameplans of all-time. Laying down a striking clinic from the opening bell, Adesanya showed patience and killer instinct in equal parts. Key to his success, Adesanya pumped out a ridiculous leg kick that tore up the knee ligaments between Costa’s calf and thigh. Leaving a red welt on his left leg, Adesanya effectively rooted Costa in the middle of the octagon as a sitting duck. Without his usual mobility, Costa really struggled to cut off the octagon and was unable to find a plan B. Not that he was given much time to adapt to his increasingly dire circumstances. Adesanya mesmerised his opponent with a display of subtle feints that drained Costa mentally and physically as he bit hard on every trick.

There was one very brief moment in the fight where it looked like Costa may be able to mount some form of offence. Bull-rushing his way into the pocket with his dangerous hooks, Costa caught Adesanya with a hard body kick as he tried to slip out the side. Adesanya shrugged it off, however, and reset himself in the centre of the octagon. Reach proved itself King too, on the night. Adesanya’s eight-inch reach advantage was sponged for every inch of its worth. Waving in front of Costa’s face as a distance gauge and barrier to Costa’s explosive outbursts, Adesanya was able to tag his man with a jab that could simply not be answered. The ramping frustration was evident as Costa’s most effective work came from taunts and imitating the guard of previous shared opponent, Yoel Romero. Overloaded mentally, Adesanya was able to sneak in the overhand right behind the ear of Costa that would finish the fight. Of note as well, Adesanya’s finishing was top notch as he delivered brutal ground and pound on top of a turtled Costa.

The future for both men:

Israel Adesanya – Reigning Middleweight champion and successfully completing the second defence of his title in stunning fashion. Mocked relentlessly on social media after his farcical decision victory over Romero, Adesanya has surely won back the casual audience after his striking clinic over a very loud opponent. A rematch with Robert Whittaker will eventually take place, but most likely before then, a fight with Jared Cannonier or even… Jack Hermansson (please, please, please)!

Paulo Costa – A loss would have been an extremely humbling pill to swallow for the outspoken Brazilian. Such a humbling, however, leaves Costa in a precarious position. Having lost much of the goodwill of the casual crowd, Costa will need a flashy victory to regain their support. Hardcore fans will still tune in to watch the juicy sloot throw high octane hands against any of the Middleweight threats. Dereck Brunson or Kelvin Gastelum would be fun opportunities for all men involved.