Tag: UFC 253

UFC 253 ‘Fight Motion’: Israel Adesanya’s technique reigns supreme

Check UFC 253 highlights, including Israel Adesanya and Jan Blachowicz’s title victories in super slow motion.

UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] put on a masterclass display of technique in his winning effort against [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] at UFC 253 this past Saturday.

After a round of technical boxing, leg kicks and footwork, Adesanya (20-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) and Costa (13-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) moved into Round 2 – what proved to be the final round of the fight. Adesanya finished Costa with punches. A left hook was the beginning of the end for Costa, who fell to the canvas. A few follow-up shots later, Adesanya retained his belt in his second successful UFC title defense.

Also featured in UFC 253 “Fight Motion” is new light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz earning gold with a second-round TKO of Dominick Reyes, sequences from a wild “Fight of the Night” bonus-earning fight between Brandon Royval and Kai-Kara-France, as well as a whole host of undercard battles.

UFC 253 took place Saturday at Flash Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The main card streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Check out UFC 253 “Fight Motion” in the video above.

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Israel Adesanya addresses pectoral controversy stemming from UFC 253 title defense

UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya discusses controversy surrounding his odd-looking right pectoral muscle at UFC 253.

[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] hsa addressed some of the recent speculations floating around the Internet.

Adesanya left plenty to talk about after the second title defense of his middleweight belt at UFC 253 this past Saturday in Abu Dhabi. Adesanya (20-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) stopped Paulo Costa in the second round of their main event. It was a dominant performance that had many people talking. His controversial post-fight celebration also made headlines.

But those weren’t the only things that had fans talking Saturday night. Adesanya’s right pectoral muscle was also a point of conversation because it looked much different than his left. Many thought it was an injury, but others accused the champion of taking steroids.

“No, I haven’t (taken steroids),” Adesanya told UFC broadcast partner ESPN. “I’m not one of those people who need a crutch that when it gets taken away you feel weak, you feel inadequate. You see with when (the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency) came through, you saw a lot of bodies change and a lot of people didn’t feel good enough without their magic supplements. But yeah – not me. Skills pay the bills.”

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Adesanya did acknowledge that something is going on with his right pectoral muscle.

“I didn’t want to speak on it until I knew what it was because it’s been on me the last eight weeks, and it was growing,” Adesanya explained. “I was like, ‘This is quite sore.’ And even my girl told me to go to the doctor, but I was like, ‘No I want to get this fight over with first.’ I don’t know what it is, but from what I read about (gynecomastia), it happens to both your boobs and this is just one.”

Adesanya said he took a blood test following the fight, along with MRI scans, to check his pituitary gland.

“I’ve never been one to diagnose myself with Google, so I wasn’t going to start now,” Adesanya said. “I’ve done my tests and I’m waiting for the results.”

Adesanya scuffed any fan speculations of steroid use. He attributed claims to haters trying to discredit his win over Costa (13-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC).

“I don’t know what this is, but you know what? With a performance like that, I would think I was on steroids, too,” Adesanya said. “They need something. ‘It couldn’t just be him. It couldn’t be him. It must be something.’ So for me, it’s just fun and games.”

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Video: Did Israel Adesanya’s dry-hump celebration go too far?

UFC fighters-turned-commentators Paul Felder, Dan Hardy and Angela Hill offer their unique perspectives on Israel Adesanya’s celebration.

ABU DHABI – Did [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] go too far with his UFC 253 post-fight celebration?

After finishing [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] with strikes in Round 2, Adesanya (20-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) dry-humped his downed rival who laid face down on the canvas. Moments later, Adesanya was seen exchanging words with Costa’s coach, Eric Albarracin, before pretending to ejaculate on him.

On Tuesday, three UFC fighters-turned-commentators weighed in on the topic during a series of interviews. [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag], [autotag]Dan Hardy[/autotag] and [autotag]Angela Hill[/autotag] each offered a unique perspective on Adesanya’s hip-thrusting on top of Costa (13-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC).

Check out their reactions to Adesanya’s post-fight theatrics in the video above.

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UFC 253 took place this past Saturday at Flash Forum on Yas Island. The main card streamed live on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+. The event was the first of five the promotion is holding during its second stint on “Fight Island.”

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UFC analysts break down Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa results

UFC analysts Paul Felder, Dan Hardy and Angela Hill give their thoughts on what happened with Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi.

UFC analysts Paul Felder, Dan Hardy and Angela Hill give their thoughts on what happened with Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi.

Did Israel Adesanya go too far after UFC 253?

Was Israel Adesanya’s post-fight celebration at UFC 253 over the line? UFC fighters and analysts Paul Felder, Dan Hardy and Angela Hill give their thoughts.

Was Israel Adesanya’s post-fight celebration at UFC 253 over the line? UFC fighters and analysts Paul Felder, Dan Hardy and Angela Hill give their thoughts.

Daniel Cormier respectfully declines Jan Blachowicz’s angry callout; peace is reached

“You shouldn’t worry bout what an old retired man is saying.”

New UFC light heavyweight champion [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] doesn’t appreciate [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag]’s assessment of him, and he let that be known.

During Monday’s episode of “DC and Helwani” on ESPN, Cormier was critical of Jon Jones for expressing interest in a return to 205 pounds to fight Blachowicz after he recently vacated the title, indicating that Jones may have left the division because he feared Dominick Reyes. In the middle of his explanation, Cormier also hinted that Jones would beat Blachowicz easily.

“Jones beats Blachowicz. Too slow. (Blachowicz is) too slow to beat … because the thing about Jones people don’t realize, he’s got a good chin,” Cormier said. “You can hit him. I hit him. A lot of us hit him. He can take punches, man. If Jan Blachowicz is out there, and he’s too slow, Jones would pick him apart. If I was still fighting at 205 – or if I was still fighting today – and you said, ‘DC, you can fight Jan Blachowicz,’ I’d probably fight Jan Blachowicz. No disrespect.”

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But that’s exactly how Blachowicz saw it – as a sign of disrespect – and he made that clear in a tweet directed at the recently retired former UFC double champion.

“Hey @dc_mma! If you have so much to say about me, get your fat ass off the couch and come to the Octagon,” Blachowicz wrote. “I’ll teach you some respect.”

Rather than engage further, Cormier took the high road with a retweet.

“No chance champ, congrats on a big win. You’re the man!” he wrote. “You’re the king now, you shouldn’t worry bout what an old retired man is saying. Great job getting that title!”

You can see the exchange between Cormier and Blachowicz below (via Twitter):

Blachowicz issued one more response and reached peace with DC.

Okey, that’s nice. An Internet war is over :). #ChampsRespect

Blachowicz won the light heavyweight title this past Saturday at UFC 253 with a dominant finish of Reyes in the second round. It marked the new champ’s fourth consecutive win, which includes Luke Rockhold, Ronaldo Souza and Corey Anderson.

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Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones vacated title to avoid Dominick Reyes, probably returns to 205

Daniel Cormier believes Jon Jones vacated his light heavyweight belt out of fear of rematching Dominick Reyes.

With Dominick Reyes out of the immediate title picture, [autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] thinks fans can expect to see a light heavyweight return by Jon Jones.

Speaking on ESPN on Monday, Cormier, the former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, discussed Jan Blachowicz’s title-earning victory over Reyes at UFC 253 and Jones’ tweets since.

Cormier took particular exception to Jones potentially hinting at a return to 205 pounds weeks after vacating the title, calling his longtime rival “out of touch.”

“That’s so whack,” Cormier said. “Have you ever met a guy that’s so out of touch? He’s so out of touch. It’s like, OK, Jon, then why not just go, ‘I was afraid of Dominick Reyes. Now I want to go back to 205 and fight Jan Blachowicz because he beat Dom’? That’s crazy. I mean, who does that? Who does that?

“He could have fought Reyes. This could have been him and Reyes (Saturday). This was supposed to be him and Reyes. Instead, he gave up the belt. He gave up the belt and said, ‘I want to fight at heavyweight.’ Now, ‘Maybe, I’ll go back?’ How could you be so out of touch? I don’t get it.”

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Despite this, Cormier said it would be smart for Jones to return to light heavyweight and fight Blachowicz. If that fight were to happen, Cormier predicts Jones would win. Speed and durability would prove to be the difference makers, he said.

“(Blachowicz) is too slow to beat (Jones),” Cormier said. “The thing about Jones is people don’t realize he’s got a good chin. You can hit him. I hit him. A lot of us hit him. He can take punches. If Jan Blachowicz is out there and he’s too slow, Jones will pick him apart. God, I can’t believe it. Look, if I was still fighting at 205 or if I was still fighting today and you said, ‘D.C., you can fight Jan Blachowicz,’ I’d probably fight Jan Blachowicz. No disrespect, just because I think… it’s surprising, right?

“When you have footage of people getting old victories over him, you think you can do it, too. Any fighter does. If you’re a guy like myself or Jones, then, of course, you think you can beat him. That’s why Jones will go fight him.”

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Jones, 33, has not competed since a February 2020 split-decision victory over Reyes at UFC 247. After a dispute with UFC president Dana White over pay, Jones vacated his 205-pound title in mid-August. He has since declared he will move up to heavyweight for his next fight – though he has hinted at interest in a 205-pound return, as well.

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Paulo Costa calls Israel Adesanya ‘human trash’ for lewd post-fight celebration, demands rematch

Paulo Costa is furious with Israel Adesanya.

[autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] is furious with [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag].

After seeing a replay of Adesanya’s lewd post-fight celebration, Costa (13-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) posted a video to his Instagram, ripping into his UFC 253 opponent and vowing to get revenge for the UFC middleweight champion’s actions.

“I come here to talk about the action the human trash did – the human trash did – after our fight,” Costa said. “I didn’t see when I was down in the cage, but I saw now. I disapprove 100 percent. To me, this is not done now. Nobody will stop me. Nobody can stop me. I am (coming) for you Adesanya. I want my rematch – and you know I’m waiting for you.”

Costa’s anger stems from Adesanya pretending to hump or “rawdog” him, as Adesanya put it, when the fight was stopped. Costa was down on the canvas, hurt from strikes while Adesanya’s pelvic thrusting took place.

In addition to ranting about Adesanya’s mocking celebration, Costa alluded to, but did not elaborate on, “something” that happened before the fight. Costa said he was not “100 percent” against Adesanya (20-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), but that if the two fight again, he will be.

“Something happened before the fight,” Costa said. “I’m not (making) an excuse here to my people and my fans. I’ll be 100 percent to fight and make him pay. That’s my words. Save my words.”

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The video caught the attention of Adesanya, who posted two responses in the comments.

“I can stop you… again,” Adesanya wrote, along with, “Dislike.”

Check out Costa’s response video below:

UFC 253 took place Saturday at Flash Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.  The main card streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view. The prelims streamed on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

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MMA Junkie Radio #3091: UFC 253 reaction with John Morgan from ‘Fight Island’

Check out the latest edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”

Monday’s episode of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here!

On Episode No. 3,091 of the podcast, the fellas look back at UFC 253 to discuss [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag]’s masterful performance against Paulo Costa, what to expect from [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag]’s light heavyweight title reign after he finished Dominick Reyes, [autotag]Diego Sanchez[/autotag]’s fighting future (should he retire?), and more. They also react to the talk surrounding a potential boxing match between [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] and [autotag]Manny Pacquiao[/autotag].

Take a listen above as MMA Junkie’s John Morgan joins the show from Abu Dhabi.

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

Watch Israel Adesanya soak in masterclass performance against Paulo Costa at UFC 253

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya relives his moment after finishing Paulo Costa at UFC 253.

UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] did exactly what he said he’d do at UFC 253 – maybe even better.

Adesanya (20-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) finished [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] to retain his title this past weekend, using his movement, speed and technique to score a flawless second-round TKO over the formerly unbeaten Brazilian.

The “Last Stylebender” is known to be a visionary, and after saying he’d make it look easy on the night, he reflected on his moment by walking across the octagon post-fight and taking it all in.

In less than three years with the UFC, the undefeated champion has risen to superstardom, picking up nine wins, notching seven bonuses and successfully defending his title twice.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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