UFC – Paulo Costa’s Coach Tells Israel Adesanya: Don’t Run Away

Coach Eugene Bareman recently stated that Israel Adesanya hasn’t been offered a fight against Paulo Costa yet. However, ‘Borrachinha’s’ manager Wallid Ismail, has denied this claim.

Speaking to to MMA Fighting, Ismail has claimed that Bareman “lied” and that multiple offers have been made. Adding that the initial plan was to book the UFC middleweight title fight for UFC 251 this very weekend.

“His coach lied. He has to understand that when he says something in Australia we can see it right away in Brazil through the internet. He can’t lie. There was an offer for July 11th, and then they said August, and now they are talking September or October.”

Ismail also stated that the UFC is considering booking the fight for UFC 253 on September 19th, in case Khabib Nurmagomedov is not available after the death of his father, Abdulmanap. Although he believes it’s more likely to take place in one of the UFC’s two pay-per-view events in October.

With Adesanya apparently stalling, Ismail hit out at the champion, reminding him that he can’t get out of fighting Costa.

“Adesanya can’t choose opponents, this is not a f***ing video game. If he wants to choose opponents, just buy the UFC game. This is MMA and you have to put the number one contender against the champion. The point is, this champion had a disaster of a performance last time he fought, so ‘Borrachinha’ is coming to save this pay-per-view.” Ismail said.

Costa currently has a perfect record of 13-0, with his last five wins coming inside the UFC Octagon. Most recently, scoring an impressive win over Yoel Romero last year at UFC 241. While Adesanya has a similarly impressive undefeated record of 19-0. After notching up three huge wins over Anderson Silva, Kelvin Gastelum and Robert Whittaker in 2019, the 185lbs champion disappointed in his last fight, winning a unanimous decision over ‘The Soldier Of God’ at UFC 248.

With both middleweights unbeaten in their professional MMA careers, Ismail believes that a fight between the two would be massive.

“It would be huge. Everybody loves watching two guys that hate each other. When was the last time you saw two undefeated guys fighting for the belt? It’s going to be incredible.”

This is no doubt a fight that many fans want to see due to the immense dislike both fighters have for each other. Although Ismail believes that Adesanya can’t say anything to Costa right now, until he signs the contract.

“Don’t run away from this fight please,” Ismail said. “His coach is trying to act like a manager now and that’s how careers end. We’re hoping to have a date some time this year, and I just hope they stop crying. Adesanya is crying. He can’t say anything online until he actually signs the deal. If you’re offered a fight and don’t take it, you can’t say anything.”

Who do think walks away the UFC middleweight champion, when these two finally meet inside the Octagon?

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