Israel Adesanya is being lined up for a highly anticipated comeback fight in Abu Dhabi, with a rematch against Paulo Costa reportedly in the works for UFC 321 on October 25, according to The Port City News Sports.
The two first clashed at UFC 253 in September 2020, where Adesanya dismantled Costa with a second-round knockout to retain his middleweight crown. Talks are now progressing for a sequel nearly five years later, though UFC President Dana White has yet to officially sign off on the bout.
If finalised, Adesanya vs. Costa II is expected to feature prominently on the UFC 321 card at Etihad Arena, potentially serving as the co-main event alongside Tom Aspinall’s heavyweight title defense against Ciryl Gane.
Adesanya enters the potential rematch as the favourite, given his emphatic win in their first encounter. However, the Nigerian-born Kiwi has not tasted victory since UFC 287, when he spectacularly reclaimed the 185-pound title from Alex Pereira. He has since stumbled, suffering three consecutive defeats.
Costa, meanwhile, regained momentum this past July at UFC 318, outpointing Roman Kopylov by unanimous decision. Currently ranked 12th at middleweight, he will see a rematch with Adesanya as his biggest opportunity to leap back into title contention.
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Despite his recent struggles, Adesanya’s legacy remains impressive. The former champion successfully defended his belt seven times, notching victories over elite names such as Robert Whittaker (twice), Yoel Romero, Kelvin Gastelum, and even MMA legend Anderson Silva. His rivalry with Alex Pereira also cemented his place as one of the division’s greats.
At present, Adesanya sits fourth in the middleweight rankings, while Khamzat Chimaev holds the belt. A convincing win over Costa could quickly reinsert “The Last Stylebender” into the championship picture.
Official word on the rematch is expected soon, with UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi targeted for October 25 as the stage for their long-awaited second showdown.
