Israel Adesanya knocks out Brazil’s Paulo Costa to retain title

Nigeria’s Israel Adesanya knocked out Brazil’s Paulo Costa to successfully defend his middleweight title.

The undefeated UFC 253 category champion knocked out Costa in the second round at the Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on Sunday morning.

#AndStill the UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya #UFC253 pic.twitter.com/57QaXq5VOl

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) September 27, 2020

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The bout was the second title fight in UFC history that featured two unblemished records.

The Nigeria-born New Zealander has now gone 20 fights with no loss.

“The Last Stylebender” as Adesanya is popularly called, kept the challenger at a distance and picked him apart with constant kicks landing clean on the lead leg of Costa. At the end of the opening round Costa’s left leg was sporting a big red mark.

In the second round, Adesanya went straight back to work on the leg with Costa simply unable to close the gap and get at the champion.

Then a high left kick landed on the temple of the Brazilian which cut him open before an Adesanya left hook grazed his head and dropped Costa to the canvas.

This makes it four UFC title wins for Adesanya, moving him into second all-time on the longest UFC win streaks.