Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is reportedly set to make his return to the Octagon in a rematch against Paulo Costa at UFC 321 on October 25, 2025, in Abu Dhabi.
Adesanya and Costa last met at UFC 253 in September 2020, where the Nigerian-New Zealander delivered a dominant performance, stopping the Brazilian with a second-round knockout to retain his middleweight crown.
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Their highly anticipated rematch, though not yet officially confirmed by UFC President Dana White, is expected to feature on the main card of UFC 321, potentially as the co-main event alongside the heavyweight title clash between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane.
Adesanya, 35, has endured a difficult spell since his knockout victory over Alex Pereira at UFC 287, which saw him reclaim the 185-pound title.
He has since suffered three consecutive losses, marking the toughest run of his career.
Despite the setback, “The Last Stylebender” remains one of the most decorated fighters in the division, with seven successful middleweight title defenses during his reign.
His résumé includes victories over elite names such as Robert Whittaker (twice), Yoel Romero, Kelvin Gastelum, Alex Pereira, and MMA legend Anderson Silva.
Ranked No. 4 in the division, Adesanya knows victory against Costa could reignite his pursuit of the title, now held by Khamzat Chimaev.
Costa heads into the potential rematch in solid form, having secured a unanimous decision win against Roman Kopylov at UFC 318 in July.
Currently ranked No. 12, the Brazilian will see the fight as a chance to avenge his only career knockout loss while making a strong case for a rise back into title contention.
If confirmed, Adesanya vs. Costa II promises to deliver another explosive chapter in one of the UFC’s most intriguing middleweight rivalries. An official announcement from the UFC is expected in the coming weeks.
UFC 321 takes place on October 25, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
