Paulo Costa (photo via Twitter)

By FCF Staff

It remains to be seen if Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa end up fighting in the Octagon. But, Costa has made it very clear he wants to face Adesanya and that he’s certain he’ll defeat the vaunted striker.

Costa took a big step toward a title shot this past weekend at UFC 241, by defeating fellow, middleweight contender Yoel Romero by split decision. After the bout, Costa said he plans to wait for his shot at the 185 belt. The interim champ Adesanya is scheduled to face champion Robert Whittaker on October 5th.

More recently Costa was a guest on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, and he had this to say about Adesanya (quote via MMA Junkie):

“Remember, I saw against Anderson Silva, Anderson Silva put his back on the cage and say come on Israel and Israel is afraid,” Costa said. “Israel is a fake champion, I don’t believe that he’s a true champion you know. He not have jiu-jitsu, he not have wrestling. I proved that I can face the high level of wrestling, takedowns you know. Romero tried to put me down in the first time he tried, I scrambled him and he say oh my God, I can’t take this guy down easily.”

“He shows a fake confidence,” said Costa. “When you talk a lot of (expletive), when you avoid some things, because you don’t feel real confidence in yourself. Deep down he don’t show the real confidence like McGregor. McGregor is a very confident guy and everybody feel that, Nate Diaz also but Adesanya is a fake confidence.”

“I will slap his face, kick his (expletive). I will embarrass him in the cage.”

Adesanya won the interim title in April by recording a decision win over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236.