Israel Adesanya: Paulo Costa is “Dumb” And “Dangerous”

Israel Adesanya apparently doesn’t think much of Paulo Costa’s intellect. But, according to “The Last Stylebender”, that’s one of the reasons his rival’s so dangerous.

Adesanya says Costa is “dumb” and “dangerous”

After months of feuding and verbal warfare, Adesanya and Costa are booked to fight in the headliner of UFC 253, September 26th.

Costa was expected to challenge the middleweight champ sooner, but a bicep injury postponed his title shot. Adesanya proceeded to face and defeat Yoel Romero in February instead.

Well, recently the rivals appeared on ESPN’s “SportsCenter”, and not surprisingly, the two traded insults and warnings. Case in point, Adesanya had this to say about the hulking middleweight (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“He’s dumb,” Adesanya said. “He’s dumb and he walks forward and he throws shots. That’s what makes it really exciting, and that’s what I’m looking forward to.

I’m looking forward to this big, inflated ignoramus, running up on me, trying to throw shots as I keep moving and sticking him.”

“…The only people he ever beat that are worthy of anything as two guys that are ranked, that was Uriah Hall and Romero,” Adesanya said. “Who else has he beat that’s ranked?

Who else has he beat? I can list you four guys that I have, so you have to understand there’s levels to this.

“Like I said, he’s dumb. But that’s what makes him dangerous, as well, because he’s not scared to walk forward and just throw, and he’s strong.

But the same thing happens when they step in the cage with me.

When they see me, they feel me. They say, ‘Oh my God – he’s a lot stronger than I thought. Oh my God – he’s a lot bigger than I thought.’”

Costa fires back

Of course, Costa had some choice words for Adesanya as well. The powerful fighter took pokes at Adesanya’s widely panned, fight with Romero, as well as the champ’s air.

“I really think he has good skills,” Costa said. “His best skill is running away – avoid the fight.

He’s very good at that – very good when he wants to do that. I tried to ask him why he just stood when he faced Romero.

The only thing more disturbing than his hair was his fight against Romero.”

It will be interesting to see how this feud builds as UFC 253 approaches, and what goes down during fight week. The question is, after they fight, will the two squash their beef?