UFC Fight Island: Dana White says Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa deal 'not done'

UFC president says only one of the fighters has so far agreed to middleweight bout

Amir Albazi of Iraq celebrates after his submission victory over Malcolm Gordon of Canada in their bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Amir Albazi, right, of Iraq punches Malcolm Gordon of Canada in their bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil celebrates after defeating Joseph Benavidez in their UFC flyweight championship bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil celebrates after defeating Joseph Benavidez in their UFC flyweight championship bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Deiveson Figueiredo, right, of Brazil punches Joseph Benavidez in their UFC flyweight championship bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Jack Hermansson of Sweden celebrates after his submission victory over Kelvin Gastelum in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Jack Hermansson, left, of Sweden secures a heel hook submission against Kelvin Gastelum in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Jack Hermansson, right, of Sweden kicks Kelvin Gastelum in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Rafael Fiziev of Kazakhstan celebrates after his victory over Marc Diakiese of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Rafael Fiziev, left, of Kazakhstan punches Marc Diakiese of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Marc Diakiese, right, of the Democratic Republic of the Congo punches Rafael Fiziev of Kazakhstan in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Ariane Lipski of Brazil celebrates after her victory over Luana Carolina of Brazil in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. ( Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Ariane Lipski, right, of Brazil secures a knee bar submission against Luana Carolina of Brazil in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Askar Askarov of Russia reacts after the conclusion of his flyweight bout against Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Askar Askarov, left, of Russia punches Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Askar Askarov, right, of Russia punches Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Roman Dolidze of Georgia celebrates after his knockout victory over Khadis Ibragimov in their light heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. All Photos by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Roman Dolidze (left) of Georgia knocks out Khadis Ibragimov of Russia in their light heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Nad Narimani of England punches the body of Grant Dawson in their bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Grant Dawson (right) launches a flying knee against Nad Narimani of England in their bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Joe Duffy (left) of Ireland punches Joel Alvarez of Spain in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Joel Alvarez (left) of Spain punches Joe Duffy of Ireland in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Montel Jackson (right) kicks Brett Johns of Wales in their bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Brett Johns, left, of Wales battles Montel Jackson in their bantamweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Arman Tsarukyan, left, of Armenia kicks Davi Ramos of Brazil in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Davi Ramos, right, of Brazil punches Arman Tsarukyan of Armenia in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Serghei Spivac, right, of Ukraine punches Carlos Felipe of Brazil in their heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Carlos Felipe, left, of Brazil punches Serghei Spivac of Ukraine in their heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

UFC president Dana White has denied reports a middleweight title clash between champion Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa has been agreed.
Brazilian outlet Combate claimed early on Sunday that a deal was in place for the pair to meet on September 19, with Las Vegas or Abu Dhabi mooted as the two options to host.

The bout, which would pit the unbeaten belt-holder against the undefeated No 2-ranked challenger, was reportedly set for UFC 253, a card that was originally earmarked to feature as headline Khabib Nurmagomedov against Justin Gaethje.

However, when asked following Sunday’s UFC Fight Night 2 in Abu Dhabi about Adesanya-Costa, White said only one of the fighters had actually signed.

“It’s not done,” he said. “They were told not to say anything. Combate breaks it immediately and tweets. The fight is not done."

On where the bout would be staged if agreed, White said: “Probably be here.”

White was also quizzed about whether Nurmagomedov-Gaethje could share that potential card, but said the lightweight champion is going to fight only "when he calls me”.

Nurmagomedov's father died earlier this month from complications resulting from contracting Covid-19. White said, though, that he would not set a time limit on Nurmagomedov fighting next.

“Khabib’s dad just died,” he said. “When he’s ready he’ll let me know.”

UFC Fight Night 2 was the third of four events at this month’s Fight Island, with the final show in the series on July 26. White, who returns to Las Vegas on Sunday, has overseen the inaugural fight festival, and confirmed he was delighted with how it played out.

“It’s been incredible,” he said. “The whole thing since the beginning has been a crazy ride. These are the people to do it with, I knew that. We’re here, we did it and one more to go. This next card’s very fun. I got to get home and start working on what’s next.”