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Israel Adesanya slams conspiracy theory about saggy pec

Israel Adesanya, pictured here in action at UFC 253.
Israel Adesanya right pec muscle was noticably drooping. Image: UFC/Getty

Israel Adesanya has hit back at ugly allegations regarding his appearance at UFC 253.

Adesanya dominated Paulo Costa on Saturday to retain his UFC middleweight belt.

However it was his body that garnered more attention than his performance.

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Scores of fans took to social media to comment on swelling in the Nigerian-born Kiwi fighter’s chest.

Adesanya’s right pec was drooping noticeably, with some speculating he had developed a gynecomastia - swelling of male breast tissue that can accompany steroid use.

“What’s up with Izzy right t**,” fellow fighter Jon Jones tweeted.

Middleweight star Chris Weidman said: “Nipweird?”

While Aljamain Sterling wrote: “What’s up with Izzy’s right pec?! Did anyone else notice this? My girl just pointed it out.”

Adesanya hits back at steroid speculation

Adesanya has since hit back the the allegations in a conversation with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani published on Wednesday.

“I don’t know what this is, but you know what? With a performance like that, I would think I was on steroids, too,” Adesanya said.

The 31-year-old told Helwani that he had the swelling checked out with a doctor.

“I just got blood tests done, and I did like a scan - two MRI scans just now, 20 minutes ago for my pituitary gland,” Adesanya said.

“So we’ll get the tests back and see what it is.

“I’ve done my tests, and I’ll wait for the results. I might keep you posted.

“I might keep letting people speculate. It’s kind of fun to watch people just cry about it.”

Helwani addressed the steroid speculation directly, sparking an angry response.

“F--- no. Come on man. I know you believe me,” Adesanya responded.

“No I haven’t. I’m not one of those people who needs a crutch when that s*** is taken away, they feel weak, they feel inadequate.

“You saw that when USADA came through, a lot of bodies changed and a lot of people didn’t feel good enough without their little magic supplements.

“But that’s not me. Skills pay the bills.”

Adesanya, who improved to 20-0 with his second-round TKO of Costa at UFC 253, also told Helwani that he’d like to fight again in 2020.

However Adesanya declined to address speculation about who his opponent might be.

with Yahoo Sports US

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