Paulo Costa On Israel Adesanya’s Drug Testing Claims: “You Know It Is A Joke To Me”

Paulo Costa is not bothered by Israel Adesanya's words.

Costa and UFC middleweight champion Adesanya will clash for the gold this Saturday Night in the main event of UFC 253. Adesanya has made some claims about the perceived lack of drug testing Costa has apparently gone through ahead of UFC 253, but Costa isn’t taking things seriously.

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“You know it is a joke to me. It is all that he has to say about me. I have a great team by my side, the best of the best, I have good doctors, good trainers, good condition, and physical trainers, I have a bunch of very, very high-quality people around me,” Costa said to Aaron Bronsteter TSN (via Cole Shelton of BJPenn.com). “And, I believe I have some kind of genetics that help me and I love to train and work out. When you put all these ingredients and mix them, you have a great result. That is why.”

Costa was famously tested while filming his own training video ahead of UFC 253 and according to the USADA website, Costa has been tested 45 times by USADA during his time in the UFC, while Adesanya has been tested 32 times.

UFC 253 takes place on Saturday, September 26 from Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi with Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which streams live on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

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