Pushing back on critics who claim his two-fight losing streak and recent defeat to the champion leaves him far from a title shot, UFC Middle*weight contender Paulo Costa took aim at the media for reporting on a false narrative about Israel Adesanya defeating him at UFC 253. Taking to social media, Costa released a photo of the champion following the purported bout.
“Look at this man’s face,” Costa said in the caption of the post in which a grinning Adesanya wears his championship belt with no visual injuries or indications of even mild strain. “I was the UFC’s #1 contender. Does that look like the face of someone who just fought an elite middleweight? He unquestionably hasn’t been subjected to any form of violence. It’s impossible.”