After a long period of anticipation, the middleweight title fight finally happened as the headliner of UFC 253. It was widely considered the most hyped match in the division's recent history. In the end, Israel Adesanya lived up to the hype, putting Paulo Costa away with a second-round KO.
After months of build-up, the Middleweight bout, at last, was successfully featured as the main event at UFC 253. It was the most anticipated contest of the recent past in the Middleweight division. In the bout between Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa, it was the former who lived up to his reputation by winning the fight against Paulo Costa in Round 2 of the match by KO.
Dana White had hyped the matchup as a potential 'fight of the year,' but once the bell rang, the event turned into a one-sided showcase of Adesanya's superior skill.
The stakes were incredibly high with the middleweight title and two undefeated records on the line, fueling massive fan expectations. Many hoped for an aggressive brawl from the start, but the fight began slowly as both men remained hesitant. Eventually, Adesanya shifted the tide by targeting Costa's left leg with precise strikes, causing significant damage. Costa did manage to land a few quick shots in an attempt to recover, but he couldn't stem the tide.
Adesanya completely took over in the second round, ending the fight with a knockout that gave Paulo Costa the first loss of his professional career. This victory further cements Israel Adesanya's status as one of the all-time greats of mixed martial arts.
Many fans walked away disappointed by Paulo Costa's performance at UFC 253, feeling he was a shadow of his former self. Since the original plan for Adesanya to fight Yoel Romero fell through, some viewers felt they missed out on a more competitive and spectacular encounter.
In recent years, Israel Adesanya has been highly respected for his strategic counter-striking and composure. However, some of his previous performances led critics and opponents to doubt him, with some suggesting he could be beaten if pushed. These doubts peaked after Gastelum managed to survive a full fight against him. However, by knocking out Robert Whittaker, Adesanya silenced the critics and shifted the conversation. He continues to demonstrate why he is viewed as the spiritual successor to Anderson Silva in the UFC's middleweight division.