Even Israel Adesanya could not hate Paulo Costa after he returned to winning ways at UFC 318.
The middleweight duo shared a bitter rivalry before and after their title fight in September 2020.
Including his knockout loss for 'The Last Stylebender', Paulo Costa rode a 1-4 line in his last fight.
Roman Kopylov was expected to hand over the Brazilian for a defeat, but that is not how things took place on Saturday night on UFC 318.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Israël Adesanya responds to the UFC 318 victory of Paulo Costa
Israël Adesanya looked at UFC 318 and shared a video of his live comments on YouTube.
“Costa looks good, man,” said the former double 185 pound champion during the Co-Main event.
“Costa looks clean!
“Bro, he selects them nicely. That uppercut, also right to the body.”
He added when the fight ended: “Costa started today, he is backy.
'Well done, friend. Finally!
“That was vintage. He looked good.”
The pre-Vecht words of Israel Adesanya worked …
Adesanya gave Costa a brutal reality control prior to his return to the Octagon on UFC 318.
The 35-year-old urged Costa to 'become serious' about his career, and it seemed to work as he won for the first time in three years.
“Paulo Costa, where he has been. Can't remember it,” said Adesanya.
“He is still a dangerous guy. … Costa! Come show up, man! Just show up and f – show them. Costa has the goods, but I don't know. Who is he training now?
Costa just has to become serious again, “Adesanya went on.” Costa is fun, he is entertaining to look … (but) just show some balls, man. Go back to who you were before you fought me.
'Take it more seriously. Simply f – everything else. … I love Costa. I don't think he's a bad guy. But again, just show some balls. Get serious again. Come on to fight. He has had so much – just once, once showed no weight. Just show some balls, bro. Be motivated, be disciplined. “