Undefeated UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya spoke recently with Mathew Scott for SCMP, ahead of his title defense vs. Paulo Costa at UFC 253 on September 26. Costa has been trash talking with wild abandon, but “The Last Stylebender” said he was entirely unphased.
I don’t feel anything personal in this fight, said Adesanya. I don’t know the guy from a bar of soap so why would I take anything he has to say even with a grain of salt? You can’t fight it. You just have to accept the situation at hand and roll with it. You take control of the situation sometimes as well but mostly you just accept it and roll with it. It is what it is.
I just understand what’s at stake and that’s motivation enough. [The trash talk] is all a little bit amusing but I don’t dwell too much on it. It’s all part of fighting. Ever since we were kids if people don’t like each other they talk s*** and eventually they duke it out. But while they’re talking s*** it’s all part of it. It’s all part of fighting.
We know what to watch for with him. Other people have let the moment take over. But I’ve been in those moments many times in many fighting codes, so there will be nothing new.
Adesanya lost the first two rounds in his last title defense, vs. Yoel Romero, but figured out The Soldier of God’s odd style, and swept the next three rounds.
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“There are many ways to skin a cat, said Adesanya. It took me a round or two but I worked him out.
Adesanaya recently said on his social network that his conditioning is already there.
https://twitter.com/stylebender/status/1301102847396724741
It’s the best I felt, definitely, he said. My body has already been changing these past three weeks. Now we’re just waiting for the call. In hindsight, the experience [of the lockdown] has been good for all of us. We were just living the martial arts lifestyle.
Adesnaya shared a simple game plan with Scott.
Punch him in the face – as many times as possible, he explained. And kick him as well – until he falls down.
