Paulo Costa drank a bottle of wine the night before his fight with Israel Adesanya, Jorge Masvidal says a title fight vs. Kamaru Usman is in the works, UFC Vegas 20 fallout and more — this is your Fightful Fix roundup.
Paulo Costa says he downed a bottle of wine before Israel Adesanya fight
Paulo Costa is blaming his UFC 253 loss to Israel Adesanya on a bottle of wine.
Costa posted a video to his YouTube channel on Saturday. In the video, Costa says he drank an entire bottle of wine the night before his UFC middleweight title fight to try and fall asleep. He said a subsequent hangover affected his performance against Adesanya.
“I was kind of drunk [when] I fought, maybe, on hangover,” Costa said in Portuguese (translation by MMA Fighting). “I couldn’t sleep because of the [leg] cramps. Keep in mind that the fight happens at 9 a.m. [local time], we have to wake up at 5 to get ready, stretch, wrap the hands. The UFC told us to wake up at 5 in the morning to go to the arena to fight. I hadn’t slept until 2:30."
“It was my mistake and I don’t blame anyone else, it was something I chose [to do], but, in order to try to sleep, because I had to sleep since I was awake for 24 hours, I had wine, too much wine, a bottle [of wine] to try to blackout," he continued. "I had a glass and didn’t work. Two glasses, it didn’t work. Half bottle didn’t work. I had it all.”
Costa suffered a second-round knockout loss to his archrival.
Jorge Masvidal and Kamaru Usman's manager argue over UFC welterweight title shot
Jorge Masvidal claims a second crack at Kamaru Usman and the UFC welterweight title is a guarantee; however, Usman's manager disagrees.
“Right now I’m focused on me fighting for the belt, which is going to be in August/September, actually September, we just got word on this,” Masvidal told Boxing Social. “So you’re like the second person actually to know this right now. That’s just how luck works man. A lot of MMA media sites are going to be mad I dropped to on yours first, boxing of all people. There’s going to call me a traitor. But that’s what I’m worried about.”
Ali Abdelaziz, Usman's manager, countered that claim in a text message to MMA Fighting.
“Masvidal doesn’t decide anything,” Abdelaziz said. “He needs to sit down and keep working his wrestling... When the champ makes a decision maybe he will give them an opportunity but for now nothing [is] happening.”
Ciryl Gane brushes off UFC President Dana White's criticism
UFC President Dana White was not satisfied by Ciryl Gane's win at UFC Vegas 20, but the heavyweight contender is not letting it bother him.
Gane shutout Jairzinho Rozenstruik en route to a 50-45 unanimous decision on all three judges' scorecards, but it was a rather uneventful affair. Gane was informed at the UFC Vegas 20 post-fight press conference that White was not happy with his performance.
"Everybody’s talking about Ciryl being this big contender, but look what Francis [Ngannou] did to Jairzinho,” White told Yahoo Sports’ reporter Kevin Iole after UFC Vegas 20 (h/t MMA Fighting). “This was [Ciryl Gane’s] coming out party and his chance to show the world who he is. He won, but let’s leave it at that, he won.”
“I can understand that – he is the boss and he wants to make money, so he wants a guy [who’s] bankable,” Gane replied. “We know, people want the show, want the big KO... Yes, I don’t finish the fight. I tried, but I don’t do it. So I can understand that, but I’m OK.”
Jairzinho Rozenstruik calls Ciryl Gane loss his "worst performance ever"
Jairzinho Rozenstruik is clearly disappointed in his efforts against Ciryl Gane at UFC Vegas 20 on Saturday, February 27.
Rozenstruik posted a video to his Twitter on Saturday night and expressed frustrations with his performance.
A first statement. #UFCVegas20 pic.twitter.com/Mxkwto662n
— Jairzinho 'BIGI BOY' Rozenstruik (@JairRozenstruik) February 28, 2021
“Fans, family, and friends, I just fought and the fight didn’t go my way,” Rozenstruik said (h/t MMA Fighting). “I think it’s my worst performance ever if you ask me... So this is me explaining myself, I think I owe you guys this."
“I’m gonna go back home and work my ass out for my next fight," he added. "Don’t know when that’s gonna be. Respect to Ciryl, he win the fight, and he’s a professional fighter. This is what I can say.”
Ciryl Gane is "legit" and on the title hunt
Ciryl Gane and his team are officially entering a campaign for the UFC heavyweight title shot.
Gane spoke with press at the UFC Vegas 20 post-fight press conference following his unanimous decision win over Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Gane told reporters that his next goal is to be crowned baddest man on the planet.
“I’m legit,” Gane said (MMA Junkie). “I’m undefeated and I’m the only one undefeated in this division in the rankings. I think I’m legit. I want to say it to everybody: In the next months, if you have a place, if someone has an injury, I’m here. I’m here, man.”
“I talked with my coach and he said if I win this weekend, I’m going to go after the belt,” he asserted. “It doesn’t matter who or how – we’re going to go after the belt now.”
Pedro Munhoz wants to welcome T.J. Dillashaw back to the Octagon
Pedro Munhoz wants to test his mettle against former UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw.
Munhoz made the call-out at the UFC Vegas 20 post-fight press conference following his unanimous decision win over Jimmie Rivera.
“We also have so many big names out there in the mix that I want to fight. I think a fight with T.J. Dillashaw would make sense," Munhoz said (h/t MMA Junkie). "T.J. Dillashaw is coming back. I heard some stuff that he’s coming back. I have nothing against him. I’m nobody to judge him or whatever. If the UFC thinks that fight makes sense, I would be willing to fight him or anyone else.”
“I think (he should fight the best in his return). I’m not looking to point and judge him for anything,” he added. “When he got off from the game, he was the champion. So he’s coming back, I think they’re going to give him a big name or a big fight. I’ll be willing to fight anyone the UFC offers me.”
Thiago Moises wants Al Iaquinta after UFC Vegas 20 win over Alexander Hernandez
Thiago Moises has to be considered a legitimate top 15 prospect following his decisive win over Alexander Hernandez at UFC Vegas 20.
Following his successful outing, Moises expressed interest in fighting former UFC lightweight title challenger Al Iaquinta.
“I just want to keep getting better, but I earned a top 15 opponent now," Moises began (h/t MMA Junkie). "So Al Iaquinta would be a good match. I think it will be a good fight, just ask Hernandez. He’s a lightweight, boxing, well-rounded fighter, so I think it would be great.”
UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pays out $115,000 for UFC Vegas 20
The total fighter payout for UFC's Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totalled $115,000.
"The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy," according to MMA Junkie.
Ciryl Gane: $4,000
def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik: $5,000Magomed Ankalaev: $5,000
def. Nikita Krylov: $10,000Montana De La Rosa: $5,000
vs. Mayra Bueno Silva: $4,000Pedro Munhoz: $10,000
def. Jimmie Rivera: $10,000Alex Caceres: $20,000
def. Kevin Croom: $3,500Thiago Moises: $5,000
def. Alexander Hernandez: $5,000Alexis Davis: $10,000
def. Sabina Mazo: $4,000Ronnie Lawrence: $3,500
def. Vince Cachero: $3,500Dustin Jacoby: $4,000
def. Maxim Grishin: $3,500
Kelvin Gastelum offered fight, interested in filling in for Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa
Kelvin Gastelu is looking to keep busy in 2021.
Gastelum revealed to MMA Fighting that he has been offered a fight on March 27, which he accepted, but the opponent has not yet been revealed.
“I was offered to fight March 27, I believe, I don’t know against who,” Gastelum said on Thursday. “I told them let’s go. I want to stay active this year. We’ll see what happens.”
The former UFC middleweight title challenger also expressed interest in serving as a back-up should an impending fight between Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa falls through.
“I really don’t know or have anybody in mind. But I’d be willing to fight any of them,” Gastelum said when looking at potential opponents at middleweight. “You guys know I don’t back down from a challenge. The bigger the challenge, the more excited I get. So that’s why I wanted to throw my name out there when I said I’d be the replacement if anything should happen to either of those fighters, [Robert] Whittaker or [Paulo] Costa."
Former UFC title challenger John Moraga gets TKO'd in boxing ring
John Moraga's transition from mixed martial arts to boxing is going anything but smoothly.
Moraga, who fought Demetrious Johnson for the UFC flyweight title in 2013, suffered a second-round TKO loss to Marc Castro on Saturday night. It was a short-notice fight taking place on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs. Avni Yildirim.
Moraga was dropped by a jab just seven-seconds into round one. He was dropped twice more in the second round leading to a referee stoppage. Moraga (19-7 in MMA) drops to 1-3 as a pro boxer.
Marc Castro dropped his opponent SEVEN SECONDS into the fight -- pic.twitter.com/38dCy8Y8Mi
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 28, 2021
Marc Castro improves to 2-0 -- pic.twitter.com/jWPIYV4g7E
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 28, 2021
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