Alessandro Costa and Diego Lopes are set to as soon as once more share a card within the UFC, however that comes with a value.
Lopes, a former UFC title contender at featherweight, headlines Noche UFC versus fellow Brazilian star Jean Silva, and his longtime teammate and pal Costa will get in motion on the prelims of the Sept. 13 present in San Antonio, TX, reverse Alden Coria.
“[That has] has execs and cons,” Costa instructed MMA Combating. “Evidently I’ll be the third battle of the cardboard in order that’s good as a result of I’ll be in Diego’s nook. And the con is that Diego received’t have the ability to be in my nook.”
Lopes has achieved that previously, defeating Brian Ortega on the final Noche UFC card and working again to octagon facet at The Sphere to nook his teammate Alexa Grasso towards Valentina Shevchenko. The opposite approach round, cornering earlier than his battle, was not allowed.
“The UFC didn’t let [Lopes be my corner],” Costa mentioned. “We tried, however regardless that it was the third battle of the evening, they mentioned he couldn’t do it. However I’ll be in his nook.”
The Brazilian Warriors fighters received the identical time they shared a card at Lux Battle League 7 again in 2019 in Monterrey, Mexico. Lopes tapped Marco Beltran to defend the 145-pound title, and Costa beat Diego Ortiz through resolution.
Issues didn’t go Costa’s approach the second time at UFC 295, when he misplaced a choice to Steve Erceg instantly earlier than Lopes’ win over Pat Sabatini — with out Costa in his nook.
“It was a superb camp collectively,” Costa mentioned. “Diego, regardless that he’s coming off a loss to [Alexander] Volkanovski for the belt, he’s very motivated to be again. You may all count on a terrific battle from him, I’m positive he’ll come out with the win.”
“[Silva is] a troublesome battle, we all know that, however I feel Diego has far more expertise than Jean,” he continued. “Jean hasn’t fought a high fighter like Diego. After all, we’re not underestimating him, we all know the fighter Jean is, however we additionally know who we’re, who Diego is. Diego may be very targeted, and has a sport plan totally different from previous ones. Jean may complicate a bit, however we’re prepared for any state of affairs.”
Regardless of all of the verbal assaults from Silva focusing on Lopes forward of their Brazil vs. Brazil important occasion in Texas, Costa mentioned that his teammate’s thoughts is bulletproof.
“That’s a part of his character,” Costa mentioned of Silva. “Nothing he says impacts us. We all know the best way to take care of that sort of character as a result of it’s not the primary time. Earlier than the UFC, right here in Mexico, a number of guys tried doing the identical factor, so we’re used to this sort of character. That’s Jean, proper? He talks an excessive amount of, talks crap, however that’s taken him to the place he’s immediately. We simply chortle in any respect that. Nothing impacts us.”
Costa hopes to get again within the win column to get his crew off to a terrific begin in San Antonio, and celebrates not preventing a Mexican flyweight on a card constructed across the Mexican Independence Day. Texas’ Coria stepped in as a substitute for Edgar Chairez.
“That was going to be a terrific battle,” Costa mentioned of Chairez. “He’s well-liked right here within the nation. I used to be glad to be preventing a troublesome athlete off of fine fights, however now I’m preventing Alden Coria. He’s from Houston, if I’m not mistaken, so he’s preventing at house. Even higher that he’s a gringo, and that approach I can nonetheless symbolize Mexico and Brazil.
“Alden is extra of a striker, has good takedown protection and a ton of expertise, however I see Edgar Chairez being a bit extra harmful than him. I’m not underestimating him, however I’m assured. Though I’ve been out for nearly two years, I’m feeling nice each mentally and bodily. It’s going to be my evening.”
Costa has lived in Mexico for over a decade now, and hopes to get Mexican followers backing him in San Antonio — earlier than hopefully dealing with Chairez down the road.
“Many individuals had been commenting like, ‘Rattling, two of our greatest fighters, I don’t know who I’m going to cheer for,’” Costa mentioned. “That was an excellent battle although, and I take into consideration preventing him sooner or later. My thought is to win this one quick and be again in November once more. And if Edgar desires to battle in November, I’ll be prepared for him.”
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