Paulo Costa demands rematch with 'human trash' Israel Adesanya after UFC 253 defeat

Middleweight champion inflicted a first professional defeat on the Brazilian in Abu Dhabi

Israel Adesanya kicks Paulo Costa during their middleweight title bout at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

UFC President Dana White places the championship belt on Israel Adesanya after defeating Paulo Costa in their middleweight title bout at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Israel Adesanya lands a kick to the head of Paulo Costa during their middleweight title fight at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC c

Paulo Costa punches Israel Adesanya during their middleweight title bout at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Jan Blachowicz of Poland celebrates after defeating Dominick Reyes in their light heavyweight championship bout at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC v

Jan Blachowicz of Poland punches Dominick Reyes in their light heavyweight championship bout at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Sijara Eubanks punches Ketlen Vieira in their women's bantamweight bout at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Ketlen Vieira punches Sijara Eubanks in their women's bantamweight bout at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Hakeem Dawodu punches Zubaira Tukhugov in their featherweight bout during UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Zubaira Tukhugov punches Hakeem Dawodu in their featherweight bout during UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Brandon Royval kicks Kai Kara France in their flyweight bout during UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Kai Kara France punches Brandon Royval in their flyweight bout during UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Jan Blachowicz punches Dominick Reyes in their light heavyweight championship bout during UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Dominick Reyes punches Jan Blachowicz in their light heavyweight championship bout during UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Khabib Nurmagomedov corners Zubaira Tukhugov of Russia inside Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Hakeem Dawodu of Canada reacts after defeating Zubaira Tukhugov of Russia in their featherweight bout. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Sijara Eubanks kicks Ketlen Vieira of Brazil in their women's bantamweight bout. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Ketlen Vieira of Brazil after defeating Sijara Eubanks in their women's bantamweight bout. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Brandon Royval attempts to submit Kai Kara France of New Zealand in their flyweight bout. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Brandon Royval reacts after submitting Kai Kara France of New Zealand in their flyweight bout. Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

Paulo Costa has demanded a rematch with Israel Adesanya, saying their rivalry is “mortal now” following the middleweight champion’s behaviour after his win at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

The unbeaten Adesanya, 31, cruised to a second-round TKO at Flash Forum in the opening event on Fight Island, inflicting the first defeat of Costa's professional career. The clash, tipped by UFC president Dana White to be fight of the year, lasted less than nine minutes, in which time Adesanya landed almost five times as many significant strikes as his opponent.

However, Costa has been riled by the Nigerian-born New Zealander’s antics immediately after, when he was considered to have disrespected both the Brazilian and his corner. The champion, who now sits at 20-0 in pro mixed martial arts, has since continued to taunt Costa on social media.

On Monday, Costa (13-1) took to social media himself, and bit back at what he perceived to be Adesanya’s lack of respect.

“I come here to talk about that action that human trash did ... after a fight,” Costa said via video on Instagram. “I didn’t see when I was there on the cage, but I saw now. And I disapprove 100 per cent.

“To me, this is mortal now. Nobody will stop me. Nobody can stop me. I want my rematch. And you know I am waiting for you. Something happened before the fight, I’m not [using] excuse[s] here to my people, my fans, but I will be 100 per cent to fight him, and to make him pay. That’s my words.”

In an earlier post, Costa referred to an incident pre-fight that he says affected his performance, a display that White described as "weird". Costa, whose UFC career thus far has been full of highlight-reel knockouts, did not engage with Adesanya in the octagon as had been expected.

“Thank you all the haters too for the messages,” Costa said. “To my friends, and also those who aren’t – but especially my friends and those who cheer for me – don’t worry, I’m fine.

“I already know what happened, I know what was done wrong, and it won’t happen next time. I won’t keep waiting. Some things happen, I had some problems but I won’t give any excuses, OK? The fight is over, he won, but I guarantee you that the next one will be different. Next time I meet him, if he continues the champion, it will be different.”