Midnight Mania! Israel Adesanya backs Luke Rockhold over Paulo Costa, but warns, “wrestle him straight away”

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Luke Rockhold could also be a reasonably vital underdog reverse Paulo Costa this weekend at UFC 278, however Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is backing him.

The pivotal Middleweight co-main occasion between Rockhold and Costa might go a good distance in figuring out a future title challenger, so it is smart that Adesanya is paying consideration. Breaking down the match up on his YouTube channel, Adesanya emphasised the significance of sporting down Costa early with kicks and takedowns.

“Luke ought to take him down,” Adesanya stated (by way of MMAJunkie). “Luke, begin wrestling immediately. Costa, although, early on (is harmful). His hips – I bear in mind when Yoel, identical factor. Yoel tried to take down Costa, and Costa had the overhook and simply whizzered him after which received again up, they usually smiled at one another.

“However Luke, if he can wrestle him and get him drained, put on these muscle tissue out. Luke, attempt to wrestle him immediately. Do what I did: Teep his legs, set up leg kicks just a little bit, however begin wrestling immediately and make him drained, make him second guess. Make him know he could be taken down or there’s a menace of being taken down.”

On the flip facet, Adesanya doesn’t count on a lot completely different from Costa. The Brazilian is thought for his energy punching and mixtures, whereas Rockhold has struggled with large hitters within the latter half of his profession, struggling his three most up-to-date defeats by way of knockout.

“Costa, simply do what he does,” Adesanya stated. “Simply barrage him, clip him. If he clips him, he’s most likely going to drop Luke.”

“With the break day, hopefully his mind has recovered as a lot as it could possibly,” Adesanya continued. “My mind goes Luke, so I’m gonna put Luke.”

We’ll discover out if Adesanya’s evaluation and prediction is on the cash Saturday night time.

LIVE! Watch UFC 278 PPV On ESPN+ Here!

BLOCKBUSTER WELTERWEIGHT REMATCH! Final Preventing Championship (UFC) returns to Vivint Area in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, on Sat., Aug. 20, 2022, for the primary time in additional than 5 years, headlined by a blockbuster Welterweight championship bout that can see Kamaru Usman run it again with No. 2-ranked contender, Leon Edwards. In UFC 278’s pay-per-view (PPV) co-main occasion, No. 4-seeded Middleweight contender, Paulo Costa, goals to spoil the return of former 185-pound champion, Luke Rockhold. And final however not least, former Featherweight champion and all-time nice, Jose Aldo, returns to Bantamweight motion, too!

Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action!

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