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Costa vows to win UFC belt: Adesanya rematch 'will be different'

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Days after losing his first bid for UFC gold, Paulo Costa already has his sights set on a rematch with middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

The Brazilian lost to Adesanya via second-round TKO at UFC 253 this past weekend in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

"I'm relaxed because I know what I can do here in this division," Costa said in an Instagram video, according to MMA Fighting's Guilherme Cruz. "I will still (fight at) 185 to fight (Adesanya) again. I will fight him again sooner and he knows. I will bring back with all my weapons."

Costa is one of the most explosive fighters in the UFC and typically beats his opponents using power and pressure. But against Adesanya, he stood in his opponent's range and threw less offense than usual.

Costa indicated he knows why he lost the fight, and he's confident a rematch would play out differently.

"I already know what happened, I know what was done wrong, and it won't happen next time," Costa said, translated by Cruz. "I won't keep waiting. Some things (happened), I had some problems, but I won't give any excuses. The fight is over, he won, but I guarantee you that the next one will be different. Next time I meet him, if he continues (as) the champion, it will be different."

Costa said he believes this loss only delays the inevitable.

"We'll bring the belt to Brazil," he said. "It will happen, whether you like it or not. Nothing changes. Only the 'when' changes. It would be now, but will be soon."

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