Wallid Ismail: Adesanya has ‘Homosexual Instincts,’ ‘Should be Studied by Science’

Famed coach, manager and former fighter Wallid Ismail has never shied away from controversy.

Ismail, the promoter of the major Brazilian MMA organization Jungle Fight, and manager of several current Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters, spoke with Sherdog on Thursday. The Carlson Gracie black belt shared many thoughts about his athletes, and ripped into a former opponent of one of them.

Adesanya humps Costa after the TKO finish #UFC253pic.twitter.com/vCDbuNdQRl

— MMA mania (@mmamania) September 27, 2020

At UFC 253, Israel Adesanya finished Paulo Costa – one of Ismail’s fighters – in the second round, and he appeared to “hump” his fallen foe after ending the fight. This did not sit well with Ismail, and the outspoken coach wanted to say his piece on Adesanya and the middleweight champ’s upcoming matchup with Marvin Vettori at UFC 263.

“[Vettori] almost defeated Adesanya the first time they fought, now I believe he will finish the job,” Ismail said. “Adesanya is a different fighter against opponents who tries to take him down, like Vettori. My cheering is for the Italian... After the absurd [actions] he [took towards] Paulo Costa in the end of their fight, there is no way I can cheer for that guy.”

“Adesanya has homosexual instincts and he should be studied by science,” the always polemical Ismail pontificated.

Ismail will be present in Arizona in UFC 263, where he will corner flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo. The 125-pound champion will serve in the co-main event of Adesanya vs. Vettori, in a rematch of Figueiredo’s draw with Brandon Moreno in December at UFC 256.

“One thing I love about [the] UFC is that they recognize the athletes who make efforts to help the show. They know Deiveson was really sick in his second title defense against Brandon Moreno in UFC 256. Most fighters would refuse to step in the Octagon in those conditions and Deiveson did because he knew how important it was to keep the main event. And the most impressive [thing] is that he gave a show in a five-round war against Moreno that ended up in a draw. The guy not just saved the division, but was named ‘Fighter of the Year’ and UFC recognized that effort.”

For the rematch, Ismail guaranteed that Figueiredo is more motivated than ever, tanks to Moreno’s comments about Figueiredo’s previously mentioned illness.

“The worst thing Moreno could do is say that he invented his sickness,” Ismail remarked. “Never call a liar a man from Deiveson’s origins. He got Deiveson really mad. I never saw him training so much. His goal is not to win and keep the belt, his goal is to destroy Moreno. I’m really feeling sorry for this guy.”

In addition to the preparations of Figueiredo’s rematch with Moreno, Ismail has also been working on former middleweight title challenger Costa’s next fight. Costa has been announced as the headliner of the Aug. 21 UFC on ESPN card against Jared Cannonier, but Ismail explained that it is not quite a done deal.

“We are in the middle of the negotiation,” Ismail stated. “I cannot give details. The fact is that Paulo has helped UFC to sell 750 thousand pay-per-views in UFC 253, he believes he deserves to be valued like a partner and, at least, [have] his demands heard, and I have to agree with him.”