Israel Adesanya believes Paulo Costa’s success at UFC 318 largely depends on his mindset. Costa is making his first appearance of 2025 this Saturday at UFC 318 in New Orleans, co-headlining the event. Ranked 13th in the middleweight division, “Borrachinha” is the main attraction at the Smoothie King Center and is seen as a key figure leading into Max Holloway’s retirement fight against Dustin Poirier.
Having only one win in five years, Costa urgently needs a standout performance against Rome’s Kopirov on July 19th. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Israel Adesanya analyzed the upcoming UFC 318 matchup. Adesanya, who lost to Costa in 2020 before defending his title successfully, didn’t hold back in calling out his former rival.
“Where was Paulo Costa? I can’t quite recall,” Adesanya said. “He’s still dangerous, but Costa needs to prove himself again. Show me what you got, man! I believe he has the skills, but I’m not sure.”
Adesanya urged Costa to take things seriously, saying, “Costa is fun and entertaining, but he needs to step up. Just focus and be serious. I like the guy, but it’s time to show some real fight.”
Although Costa’s focus is on this Saturday’s fight, he has already set his sights on future challenges. On the Ariel Helwani Show, “Borrachinha” expressed his desire to fight longtime rival Khamzat Chimaev after beating Kopirov.
“I want to face Chimaev. We’ve tried for two years, but he’s always declined. The UFC has attempted to arrange this fight, but he keeps saying no. I don’t respect that,” Costa said.
Chimaev is scheduled to face champion Doricus Duplesis at UFC 319 in August. Should Duplesis win, Costa might need to overcome more opponents to get another title shot.
Fan Take: This showdown at UFC 318 is pivotal for Paulo Costa’s career redemption, and Adesanya’s comments put a spotlight on Costa’s need to prove his commitment and skill once again. For fight fans, this adds an exciting layer of drama and anticipation, potentially reshaping the middleweight division’s competitive landscape.
