LAS VEGAS – Dana White thinks the UFC 253 headliner will be 2020’s best fight.
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will defend his title against Paulo Costa (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) on Sept. 26 in an event that is expected to take place at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
In a battle between two undefeated rising stars, White is looking forward to the stylistic clash that he’s confident will deliver.
“I don’t know what you guys think, but I predict that’s ‘Fight of the Year,’” White told reporters, including MMA Junkie, after UFC 252 on Saturday. “I think stylistically, it’s the perfect fight. If you look at the way Costa fights, he puts pressure on you, he stays in your face the whole time. Adesanya likes to stay on the outside and pick you apart.
“I think that fight is going to be an absolute war. Just stylistically, it matches up really, really well, and both guys are animals. Both guys want this fight really bad, and I think it’s going to be ‘Fight of the Year.’”
Bad blood has been brewing between the two middleweights, with Costa going as far as saying he won’t shake Adesanya’s hand at the end of the fight. Both men are coming off wins over Yoel Romero.
Dana White: Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa at UFC 253 will be 'Fight of the Year'