Adesanya-Romero To Headline UFC 248

Israel Adesanya has his first defense set for his UFC middleweight title, and it won’t be against Paulo Costa.

Costa, who suffered a shoulder injury last year after defeating Yoel Romero, will have to wait as Romero will be the one to face the Stylebender on March 7th inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In reports from ESPN and MMA Junkie, the fight which had been rumored since October has been made official with Adesanya stepping into the Octagon for the first time since knocking out Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 back in October.

“No one asked to fight Yoel,” Adesanya said. “I said I want to fight the baddest (expletive) in there. So we called him out even though he’s on a two-fight losing streak. He’s lost three of his last four.

“For the stark, it’s not just not good for business. I’m a charitable guy and I think he’s a beast. Regardless of records. (Expletive) records. He’s a bad (expletive).”