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Paulo Costa Claims He Drank A Bottle Of Wine Night Before Israel Adesanya Loss

Paulo Costa Claims He Drank A Bottle Of Wine Night Before Israel Adesanya Loss

Paolo Costa was easily beaten by the UFC middleweight champion in September last year but now he's claiming wine was the reason for his loss

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Paolo Costa has claimed that he lost his UFC middleweight title fight with Israel Adesanya last year because he was still recovering from drinking too much wine the night before.

Ahead of UFC 253, Costa was considered a very realistic challenger to Adesanya and had an unbeaten 13-0 record going into the fight.

However the 'Last Stylebender' proved why he's considered one of the best middleweight champions ever, winning easily, earning a second round TKO.

The New Zealander has now moved on and will face Jan Blachowski for the light heavyweight title at UFC 259 on Saturday, but Costa has finally given his excuse for his poor showing, blaming an inability to sleep and wine.

"I was a little drunk when I fought. Maybe I had a little hangover," he claimed on his own YouTube channel.

"I couldn't sleep because of the leg cramps. I remember that the fight was at 9 in the morning and we had to get up at 5 in the morning to prepare, stretch, bandage our hands.

"The UFC told us to get up to at 5 in the morning to go to the arena where we fought. I did not fall asleep until 2:30am.

"It was my fault and I don't blame anyone else for it. It was something I chose myself, but I had to sleep because I hadn't done it in the last 24 hours.

"I drank wine. Lots of wine. A whole bottle of wine to fall asleep. I had one drink and it didn't work. Two drinks and it didn't work. Half the bottle and it didn't work. And in the end I drank it all."

The show was part of the second run of fights on 'Fight Island,' on Yas Island in Dubai, and were fought on US time, despite being far away from the UFC's home.

That was why the fighters has to wake up at 5 am but it was the same for everyone else and they were in Dubai for a good few days ahead of the fight to adjust, something clearly Costa struggled with.

Whilst Adesanya is moving up in weight in an attempt to become a dual champion, Costa is trying to get back to winning ways to prove he is still a worthy challenger at middleweight.

The Brazilian faces Robert Whittaker at on April 17th on a Fight Night show. The New Zealander 2-0 after losing the middleweight title to his fellow countryman Adesanya in 2019.

Whoever wins in April could be in line for a second attempt at the champ, but neither will be on the wine pre fight!

Featured Image Credit: UFC

Topics:ย UFC 253, UFC, Israel Adesanya

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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@Sidler28