UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has downplayed the significance of his title defence against Brazil's Paulo Costa, saying it's "just another fight".
On Sunday (NZ time), the Nigerian-born Kiwi will put his title on the line for the second time at 'Fight Island' in Abu Dhabi, after successfully defending it against Cuban Yoel Romero in March.
Both Adesanya (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and Costa (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) are unbeaten inside the Octagon, and earlier this week, UFC boss Dana White billed it as the "fight of the year".
But Adesanya disagrees, insisting his opponent, whom he has continually described as a drug cheat, doesn't have the ability to go the distance.
During his professional career, Costa has won 11 of his 13 fights by knockout and hasn't gone more than 15 minutes. Championship fights can last up to 25 minutes over five full rounds.
"I know it's a big fight," says Adesanya. "I know I'm gonna do well, but I feel like it's just another fight, just another day at the office.
"I don't want to downplay the stakes. I feel like it is an important fight.
"It's gonna be a great showcase. People say it's the fight of the year, like Dana White said, but that's only if he's tough enough to actually take a beating from me for five rounds.
"I just don't think his gas tank is gonna hold up. I don't think it's going to be the greatest middleweight fight in history.
"I kinda already did that with Kelvin Gastelum, so I have that in my back resume."
Even though Adesanya downplays the significance of the fight, he does plan to prove that you don't need to be big and muscly to be the best fighter.
"People are still fooled by muscles and big juiceheads, and think, 'Ah, that's what a fighter looks like!' he says. "Especially the casuals.
"They're the ones who pay your bills, the ones who really go buy this shit.
"Once they see this skinny clown, supposedly, beat this muscly buffoon and they're like, 'What? The skinny guy beat the muscly guy! How'd he do that?'
"It's gonna blow their minds, especially in the fashion that I'm gonna do it."
Earlier this week, Adesanya bumped into Costa in a hallway and despite their bad blood, the conversation appeared very civil.
But Adesanya did take one impression from their brief interaction.
"He's insecure," he says. "The energy in the hallway was, like, someone you've been barking at behind the fence and when you see them... I've never barked at him.
"I've always just responded to him, he's reacted to me.
"When he saw me in real life, what did he do? Submitted to me.
"I had him and Walid [Ismail, Costa's manager] giggling like little girls."
If Adesanya successfully defends his title, he plans to face American Jared Cannonier next.
Cannonier has a 13-4 mixed martial arts record and is due to face Aussie Robert Whittaker - whom Adesnaya beat for the middleweight crown - next.
Join Newshub for live updates of UFC 253 from midday Sunday
