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Tag: Paulo Costa

  • Josh Hokit Gets Into Confrontation With Paulo Costa at UFC 328

    Josh Hokit Gets Into Confrontation With Paulo Costa at UFC 328

    Josh Hokit has added another altercation to what is becoming a notable collection, getting into a confrontation with Paulo Costa in the crowd at UFC 328 on Saturday night, just one day after being ejected from the UFC White House press conference following his standoff with Ilia Topuria.

    The exchange between Hokit and Costa began when the two started trading words in the crowd before security stepped in to separate them. As officers pulled Costa away, Hokit gave him the middle finger and kept shouting across the divide.

    “There’s only one fing bad guy. Get the fout of here!”

    Costa kept his composure as security maintained the separation while Hokit continued jawing at him from the other side of the crowd.

    You can see the incident on X here.

    The confrontation came 24 hours after Hokit was escorted out of the UFC Freedom 250 press conference in Newark after getting into a back-and-forth with Topuria that ended with the lightweight champion throwing an object at him. Hokit had also targeted Alex Pereira with insults during that same event before turning his attention to Topuria.

    Hokit faces Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House South Lawn in Washington D.C., a matchup reportedly put together at the personal request of Donald Trump and Joe Rogan following his performance against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327.

  • Paulo Costa, Josh Hokit Forced To Be Separated At UFC 328

    Paulo Costa, Josh Hokit Forced To Be Separated At UFC 328

    After causing a stir at the UFC Freedom 250 press conference one day earlier, Josh Hokit was involved in a mid-crowd confrontation with Paulo Costa at UFC 328.

    Costa and Hokit got into a verbal confrontation while sitting in the crowd at the Prudential Center, with the two getting close to one another. Hokit appeared to try and take Costa’s drink from out of his hand, with security quickly stepping in to separate the pair.

    Costa had teased something happening between the two of them earlier in the day on social media.

    One day before UFC 328, Hokit was present for a press conference for UFC Freedom 250, hyping up his bout at the event with Derrick Lewis.

    Hokit called out Alex Pereira, mocking the idea of Pereira being the “Baddest Man on the Planet.” Pereira appeared to ignore Hokit’s tirade, with Ilia Topuria stepping in to fire expletives at Hokit, with Hokit giving them right back.

    Topuria then threw an object at Hokit, who was quickly escorted off the stage.

    Hokit, who has been divisive in the eyes of the MMA community since his arrival to the UFC, earned the opportunity to compete at UFC Freedom 250 after his win over Curtis Blaydes last month.

    UFC Freedom 250, which takes place on the lawn of the UFC White House, will occur on Sunday, June 14.

    Costa made a jump to light heavyweight last month, knocking out the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov.

  • Paulo Costa Calls Out Khamzat Chimaev to Move Up to 205 and Warns It Will Be ‘Tragic’ for Him

    Paulo Costa Calls Out Khamzat Chimaev to Move Up to 205 and Warns It Will Be ‘Tragic’ for Him

    Paulo Costa is not done pursuing a fight with Khamzat Chimaev, and he has a very specific vision for how it should happen.

    Costa moved up to light heavyweight and knocked out the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327, establishing himself as a genuine presence at 205 pounds while keeping his eyes on the middleweight champion. The two have been on a collision course in conversation for some time, but a fight has never materialized, given that Chimaev has remained at 185 pounds.

    Costa’s solution is straightforward: Chimaev should come up to meet him.

    “I just wish he comes to 205,” Costa told Submission Radio. “I’m going to be here with my arms open, waiting for him. This is going to be even worse for him. At 205, I’m a monster. I don’t need to burn any muscle, I don’t need to sacrifice any muscle of my body to make 185. At 205, I have full ‘secret juice’ power. That is going to be tragic for him.”

    The callout is not without logic from Costa’s perspective. Chimaev has discussed the possibility of moving up to light heavyweight at various points, and Costa’s argument is that facing him at 205 would only amplify his own advantages while removing the physical toll that a middleweight cut has historically placed on him.

    Chimaev is currently preparing for his first title defense against former champion Sean Strickland in the UFC 328 main event on May 9 in Newark, New Jersey. The undefeated middleweight champion carries a 15-0 record into the fight, while Strickland is 30-7 and looking to reclaim the gold he previously lost to Dricus du Plessis.

  • Joe Rogan Names Paulo Costa as Future UFC Light Heavyweight Champion

    Joe Rogan Names Paulo Costa as Future UFC Light Heavyweight Champion

    Joe Rogan has made a prediction about the UFC light heavyweight division’s future, naming Paulo Costa as the man who will eventually hold the title following Carlos Ulberg’s ACL injury.

    Rogan made the prediction on his podcast, pointing to the combination of Ulberg’s extended absence and Costa’s recent move to 205 pounds as the circumstances that could propel the Brazilian to championship gold. Costa made his light heavyweight debut at UFC 327, finishing the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov with a head kick in the third round of the co-main event.

    Ulberg suffered a torn ACL during his first-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka at the same event, with surgery already completed and a recovery timeline that could keep him out until 2027. The vacancy at the top of the division creates a clear path for contenders to position themselves for a title shot.

    Costa has spent the bulk of his UFC career at middleweight, where he challenged for the championship against Israel Adesanya. He has been open about the physical toll of cutting to 185 pounds and has discussed a potential move to light heavyweight on multiple occasions. His UFC 327 performance made the move official and gave him immediate credibility in the new division.

    No timeline has been confirmed for Costa’s next fight, though he has already called out Khamzat Chimaev for a cross-divisional matchup.

  • Paulo Costa Has 1 Fight Left on UFC Contract, Eyes Title Shot

    Paulo Costa Has 1 Fight Left on UFC Contract, Eyes Title Shot

    Paulo Costa is down to one fight on his current UFC contract following his knockout victory at UFC 327, and he says a title shot at either middleweight or light heavyweight is now a realistic possibility.

    Costa moved up to 205 pounds and handed the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov his first career loss with a third-round stoppage in Miami on April 4. The win extended his current streak to two consecutive victories and came against the number six-ranked light heavyweight in the division.

    Speaking to Ag. Fight afterward, Costa was direct about where things stand contractually and what he is hoping comes next.

    “I have one fight left on this contract. Let’s see what’s next. I think we’re in a good position to fight for the belt, maybe,” Costa said.

    The UFC has already opened conversations about extending his deal, but Costa indicated he wants to see how the final fight plays out before committing. “The UFC already wanted to renew the contract. We’re seeing if we do one more and then sit down to negotiate.”

    He was careful to frame the situation as gratitude rather than leverage. “I’m very grateful to the UFC. But it’s my life, right?”

    The championship picture at both weight classes offers Costa potential routes. At light heavyweight, Carlos Ulberg claimed the title at UFC 327 by knocking out Jiri Prochazka, though Ulberg’s status is uncertain after appearing to suffer a significant knee injury during the fight.

    At middleweight, Costa has a well-established rivalry with current champion Khamzat Chimaev, who defends his belt against Sean Strickland on May 16. Chimaev has also expressed interest in eventually moving up to light heavyweight, which could open further possibilities depending on how the division reshapes itself over the coming months.

  • Donald Trump Tells Paulo Costa He’s ‘Too Good Looking to Be a Fighter’

    Donald Trump Tells Paulo Costa He’s ‘Too Good Looking to Be a Fighter’

    Paulo Costa stopped Azamat Murzakanov in the third round at UFC 327 in Miami on Saturday night, but it was a post-fight exchange with Donald Trump that dominated the conversation afterward.

    After Costa secured the TKO victory in the co-main event, Trump, who was seated cageside, approached the Brazilian contender near the Octagon and delivered an unexpected compliment that immediately went viral.

    “Too good looking to be a fighter,” Trump told Costa in a moment captured on camera and shared widely across social media.

    The exchange added another layer of spectacle to an already entertaining night for Costa, who had to dig deep to earn the finish. He overcame early adversity before his power and pressure broke Murzakanov down in the third round to seal the stoppage. Murzakanov had entered the fight with a 16-0 record before falling to Borrachinha in what was Costa’s light heavyweight debut.

    After the fight, Costa called out Khamzat Chimaev, saying he has “beef” with the current UFC Middleweight Champion and would be willing to fight him at either 185 or 205 pounds.

    The win keeps Costa firmly in the contender conversation as he continues to campaign for another shot at championship gold.

  • Paulo Costa Calls Out Khamzat Chimaev After UFC 327 Knockout

    Paulo Costa Calls Out Khamzat Chimaev After UFC 327 Knockout

    Paulo Costa made a statement in his light heavyweight debut at UFC 327 on Saturday night and immediately used the spotlight to call out Khamzat Chimaev.

    Costa knocked out the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov with a head kick in the third round of the co-main event at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Murzakanov entered the fight at 16-0 before falling to Borrachinha in what was Costa’s first appearance at 205 pounds.

    Following the finish, Costa celebrated cageside with President Donald Trump before making his intentions clear in his post-fight interview.

    “I have a lot of names, but I have beef with Chimaev,” Costa said. “I call him ‘Gourmet Chechen’. I’d like to fight him.”

    Costa indicated he would be open to fighting Chimaev at either middleweight or light heavyweight, leaving the weight class flexible based on what the UFC believes would make for the most compelling matchup. “We can do it here at light heavyweight. Whatever the UFC thinks is going to be an exciting fight,” he said.

    Chimaev has not competed since capturing the UFC Middleweight Championship last August, when he dominated Dricus du Plessis to win a unanimous decision at UFC 319. He is scheduled to make his first title defense against former champion Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey, on May 9.

    If Chimaev successfully defends the belt, a showdown with Costa could realistically be on the table at either weight class. Costa’s knockout of Murzakanov establishes him as a legitimate presence at light heavyweight while keeping his options open for a return to 185 pounds, where his rivalry with Chimaev first took root online.

  • “He Finds A Way” – Paulo Costa Hands Azamat Murzakanov First Loss

    “He Finds A Way” – Paulo Costa Hands Azamat Murzakanov First Loss

    The undefeated record of Azamat Murzakanov is no more, as Paulo Costa’s move up to light heavyweight produces a strong start. Costa knocked out Murzakanov in the third round of the UFC 327 co-main event.

    Despite Murzakanov’s pressure and stalking attempts, Costa’s kicking helped to get him off to an early start, landing kicks to the body and legs of Murzakanov that did damage. A body kick in the closing minute of the first round, in fact, dropped and troubled Murzakanov.

    As the fight went on, however, it appeared that Costa’s gas tank was giving him an issue. Murzakanov fought back with his own body shots, and his power came more to fruition, which bothered Costa.

    Costa was refreshed in round three, and a kick that landed on one of Murzakanov’s arms appeared to damage it badly. Costa later followed it up with a head kick that resulted in Murzakanov crumbling to the mat to give Costa the win.

    Paulo Costa Takes The 0 Of Azamat Murzakanov At UFC 327

    Costa is now 3-2 in his last five fights. This was his second fight at light heavyweight, previously fighting Marvin Vettori at 205 in 2021. Costa entered this fight off a victory over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318.

    Murzakanov now falls to 16-1. He entered this fight off a first-round finish of Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 321.

  • UFC 327 Start Time, Fight Card, How To Watch

    Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg will compete for the vacant light heavyweight championship at UFC 327 on April 11 at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The event marks the second time in less than a year that the venue will host a title fight to crown a new champion.

    The main event comes after Alexander Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes for the vacant featherweight title at the same building in April 2025.

    Start Times And Broadcast Information

    UFC 327 begins with early prelims at 5:30 PM ET, followed by prelims at 7:00 PM ET and the main card at 9:00 PM ET. West Coast viewers can tune in starting at 2:30 PM PST for early prelims, with the main card beginning at 6:00 PM PST.

    Paramount+ will stream the entire event at no additional cost for subscribers who previously watched UFC events via ESPN. UK fans will require a TNT Sports subscription, as broadcasting rights remain unchanged in that region.

    Card Changes And Main Card Lineup

    The event suffered a significant blow one week out when Joshua Van withdrew from his flyweight title defense against Tatsuro Taira in the scheduled co-main event. The matchup has been rescheduled for UFC 328 on May 9 as a co-headlining bout.

    The main card features a light heavyweight-heavy lineup. Azamat Murzakanov faces Paulo Costa, while Dominick Reyes meets Johnny Walker in separate 205-pound contests. Curtis Blaydes takes on Josh Hokit at heavyweight, and Cub Swanson battles Nate Landwehr at featherweight in his final UFC fight.

    The prelims include Patricio Pitbull versus Aaron Pico at featherweight, Kevin Holland against Randy Brown at welterweight, and Mateusz Gamrot facing Esteban Ribovics at lightweight. Tatiana Suarez meets Loopy Godinez in women’s strawweight action.

    Early prelims showcase MarQuel Mederos versus Chris Padilla at lightweight, Kelvin Gastelum against Vicente Luque at middleweight, and Charles Radtke taking on Francisco Prado at welterweight. Here is the full card:

    Main card:

    • Light heavyweight title fight: Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg
    • Light heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov vs. Paulo Costa
    • Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit
    • Light heavyweight: Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker
    • Featherweight: Cub Swanson vs. Nate Landwehr

    Prelims:

    • Featherweight: Patricio Pitbull vs. Aaron Pico
    • Welterweight: Kevin Holland vs. Randy Brown
    • Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Esteban Ribovics
    • Women’s strawweight: Tatiana Suarez vs. Loopy Godinez

    Early Prelims:

    • Lightweight: MarQuel Mederos vs. Chris Padilla
    • Middleweight: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Vicente Luque
    • Welterweight: Charles Radtke vs. Francisco Prado
  • Paulo Costa Making Light Heavyweight Debut Against Azamat Murzakanov At UFC 327

    Paulo Costa Making Light Heavyweight Debut Against Azamat Murzakanov At UFC 327

    Despite a win in his last outing, Paulo Costa will be taking on a new challenge — a new weight class — in his next bout.

    Per a report from Laerte Viana, the former UFC middleweight title challenger will be moving up to light heavyweight.

    Costa’s first fight at the weight class will be quite the test, taking on the undefeated Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327.

    Costa had been scheduled to compete at UFC 326 against Brunno Ferriera. He’s since been replaced in the bout by Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues.

    Paulo Costa vs. Azamat Murzanakov Booked For UFC 327

    Costa has gone 2-4 in the UFC, with a number of withdrawals and re-bookings, since unsuccessfully challenging Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 253.

    After missing all of 2023, Costa dropped decisions to Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland in 2024. He, however, successfully returned at UFC 318 with a decision win over Roman Kopylov.

    Murzakanov is 16-0 in the sport, including a 6-0 UFC record since arriving from Dana White’s Contender Series. Murzakanov scored the biggest win of his career at UFC 321 in October, knocking out Aleksandar Rakic.

    UFC 327 takes place on April 11 in Miami.

  • Reinier de Ridder Warns Paulo Costa: “Don’t be an idiot” Over Middleweight Fight Offers

    Reinier de Ridder Warns Paulo Costa: “Don’t be an idiot” Over Middleweight Fight Offers

    UFC middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder has given his thoughts on Paulo Costa after claiming that talks of a fight between them fell through.

    This Saturday night, Reinier de Ridder will attempt to lock up a UFC middleweight championship shot when he goes head to head with Brendan Allen. The two will battle it out in the main event of UFC Vancouver, with Allen serving as a late notice replacement for Anthony Hernandez who pulled out due to injury.

    For Reinier de Ridder, the path to a world title opportunity is clear – and if he can beat Allen convincingly, he’ll surely be next in line for a showdown with Chimaev. Of course, there are some other names floating around the 185-pound division, including Paulo Costa.

    In a recent interview, RDR had the following to say about the Brazilian.

    Reinier de Ridder offers Paulo Costa some advice

    “Costa was up first. We were in conversation with him first, but he put up too many stipulations. He wanted a catchweight, wanted three rounds instead of five. So we said, if you don’t want it, then you don’t get it. And then we moved on to Brendan, which I’m very happy with as well.”

    “If you get an opportunity like that, don’t be an idiot. Just say yes and don’t put any stipulations there. He would’ve had a great chance to be back into title conversation, but he put all the stipulations there and we said we’ll move on and see if there’s somebody else who just wants to take the fight.”

  • Joe Pyfer Calls Out Paulo Costa For Next Bout: “A dream fight”

    Joe Pyfer Calls Out Paulo Costa For Next Bout: “A dream fight”

    UFC middleweight contender Joe Pyfer has made it known that he’d be interested in a dream fight against Paulo Costa for his next outing.

    In recent years, Joe Pyfer has been seen as a real prospect in the UFC’s middleweight division. While there have been a few hiccups along the way, he’s still one of the biggest power punchers at 185 pounds – and on Saturday night, he even proved his grappling prowess when he was able to submit Abus Magomedov at UFC 320.

    While he didn’t have a great first round, it doesn’t matter. Joe Pyfer picked up the victory and now, he’s setting his sights on even greater things. Of course, at middleweight, things are a bit up in the air right now in the wake of Khamzat Chimaev winning the belt from Dricus du Plessis.

    In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Joe Pyfer had the following to say about his immediate future and what he wants next.

    Joe Pyfer calls for Paulo Costa showdown

    “Paulo Costa would be a dream fight, but he’s so inactive—he’s fought once or twice in two years. I’d rather face hungry, active guys like Marvin Vettori, Jared Cannonier, or Roman Dolidze. One more finish in the top 15, and I can fight anyone in the top 10.”

    Pyfer still has a long way to go before he’s viewed as a legitimate title threat, but at this moment in time, there aren’t too many better middleweight prospects out there – and that should be reassuring for him.

  • Paulo Costa believes Khamzat Chimaev is afraid to fight him

    UFC middleweight Paulo Costa believes that Khamzat Chimaev is afraid to fight him.

    As we know, Paulo Costa is a pretty interesting fighter in the world of mixed martial arts. While he’s clearly very talented, he’s also been responsible for some pretty outlandish remarks on social media. In addition to that, he hasn’t always lived up to his potential inside the cage, leaving many to wonder whether or not he’ll ever get back to the championship level.

    The good news for Paulo Costa, though, is that his rival Khamzat Chimaev is the new UFC middleweight champion. While that isn’t necessarily a guarantee of securing him a title fight, one or two more wins could well be enough given the demand there is out there to see this fight happen.

    In a recent interview, Paulo Costa doubled down on the idea that Khamzat is scared of making the fight happen.

    Paulo Costa believes Khamzat Chimaev is afraid of him

    “I’m looking always for the highest place, you know. Fight to go Chen, he’s holding the belt right now. And even before I called him in my last fight, my more fight, but let’s see. If it was just about me, I would fight him right now. But I’m going to follow what the matchmakers think would be better and I’ll be ready. But he’s afraid. 

    “He’s afraid always. He just hold the guys, you know, he’s marrying his balls for 25 minutes. Everybody one more fight, everybody going to be enough of that guy. That fight was horrible. I think one more and you know then they’re going to call me to cut his off.”

  • Paulo Costa vs. Shara Magomedov In Works For UFC Qatar Co-Main Event On Nov 22

    Paulo Costa vs. Shara Magomedov In Works For UFC Qatar Co-Main Event On Nov 22

    Paulo Costa is set to step into the Octagon for the second time this year.

    As per a recent report by MMA journalist Laerte Viana, Costa is set to face Shara Magomedov in a middleweight bout serving as the co-main event at UFC Qatar on November 22 at ABHA Arena in Doha.

    On Wednesday, “The Eraser” confirmed the matchup himself on X, revealing he had accepted the promotion’s offer to face Magomedov in Doha. Since then, the former UFC 185-pound title challenger has been taunting “Bullet” relentlessly on social media.

    UFC Qatar will mark the promotion’s inaugural visit to the country, and it has already begun stacking the card with compelling matchups for the upcoming Fight Night event.

    The lineup features a light heavyweight showdown between former champion Jan Blachowicz and Bogdan Guskov, a bantamweight clash pitting Aleksandre Topuria against Bekzat Almakhan, and another 205-pound battle between Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev and Rafael Cerqueira. The card also includes a flyweight bout between Alex Perez and Asu Almabayev.

    Image: @ufc/X

    When Did Paulo Costa And Shara Magomedov Last Taste Victory In Octagon?

    Paulo Costa last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 318 this past July, securing a crucial unanimous decision victory over Roman Kopylov.

    “The Eraser”, who once rode an impressive 13-fight unbeaten streak, has struggled to regain his momentum since his failed title challenge against Israel Adesanya at UFC 253 in September 2020, going 2-4 in his last six bouts. Costa currently holds a 7-4 UFC record, with four of his victories coming by knockout.

    Meanwhile, Shara Magomedov last competed at UFC Abu Dhabi this past July, securing a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Marc-André Barriault to rebound from his first career loss to Michael Page at UFC Saudi Arabia in February.

    “Bullet” boasts a 5-1 record in the UFC, highlighted by key victories over Armen Petrosyan, Michał Oleksiejczuk, and Bruno Silva.

  • Paulo Costa Calls Out Dricus du Plessis For UFC Showdown “He’s so unpredictable”

    Paulo Costa Calls Out Dricus du Plessis For UFC Showdown “He’s so unpredictable”

    Paulo Costa returned to the win column at UFC 318 but is envisioning another opportunity to secure a big win before the year is out. On the heels of his victory over Roman Kopylov, the Brazilian combatant seemingly has a few options in front of him but if Costa gets his ideal bout booking, he’ll next be testing skills with former titleholder Dricus du Plessis.

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, the former UFC middleweight title challenger put DDP in his crosshairs on the heels of the latter losing his belt to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in Chicago earlier this month. When discussing why a clash with the South African mixed martial artist would be such a compelling next step, Costa said,

    “Oh my God. Unpredictable. He’s so unpredictable. Yeah, he’s a tough guy. Tough guy to fight, to be honest. Very tough, you know. And Khamzat knew that. That’s why he held him for so long.”

    Paulo Costa wants Dricus du Plessis fight over Israel Adesanya rematch

    Paulo Costa is more keen to clash with Dricus du Plessis and test himself in that fight than he is to rematch one of his longer standing rivals in the promotion, Israel Adesanya. During the aforementioned Submission Radio interview, Costa admitted that a rematch with the former two time UFC middleweight champion would be good in it’s own way, the desire to fight DDP is more pronounced at this point in time. Costa mentioned that Dricus du Plessis is the better option, if only because he just got off of holding the 185 pound crown.

    With Costa proclaiming that he feels like he’s the man to beat newly minted UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, beating the last man to hold the title would certainly pay dividends for the number thirteen ranked middleweight contender’s goal of securing another title shot someday.

  • Paulo Costa makes big claim about Khamzat Chimaev’s security at UFC 319

    UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa has told a story about Khamzat Chimaev’s reported security at UFC 319.

    As we know, Paulo Costa isn’t a big fan of Khamzat Chimaev – who is now the middleweight champion after his dominant win over Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319. It seems unlikely that we’re going to see the two square off anytime soon, mainly because there are plenty of others in the division who are currently ahead of Costa in the pecking order.

    Still, you never know what could happen, especially after Paulo Costa’s impressive win over Roman Kopylov. He has the skills necessary to make a real run in this division but as so often seems to be the case, he may well be his own worst enemy. With that being said, that isn’t going to stop him from going on a verbal tirade against the champ from time to time.

    In a recent interview, Paulo Costa had the following story to tell about ‘Borz’.

    Paulo Costa’s story about Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319

    “We had everything set up to go to Chicago after my fight against Roman Kopylov. We contacted UFC, and they said, ‘Paulo, it’s better you not go there because he might have like 20, many people surround him to protect him from you. So it’s better not to go.’ They said it’s a big fight to protect him from you. 

    “That’s what they said. I can’t believe that. He brought a whole army. He is the kind of guy who always walks with some guys to protect him too. They said, ‘It’s better you not go there because we don’t know where this guy is going to be in the arena and they can attack you or do something against you.’ So that’s crazy.”

  • Paulo Costa explains why Khamzat Chimaev is bad for mixed martial arts

    UFC middleweight star Paulo Costa has given his thoughts on why, in his opinion, Khamzat Chimaev is bad for the sport of mixed martial arts.

    Following his win over Roman Kopylov earlier this summer, Paulo Costa seems to have his eyes firmly set on the UFC middleweight championship. Of course, claiming that title is going to be easier said than done, especially when you consider the fact that the champion is Khamzat Chimaev.

    The good news for Paulo Costa is that he has a built-in rivalry with Khamzat. These two men have gone back and forth on social media on many different occasions and also in interviews, and it certainly feels like they’re destined to collide at some point in the future.

    In a recent interview, Paulo Costa gave his thoughts on Chimaev’s UFC 319 performance and his fight style as a whole.

    Paulo Costa’s view on Khamzat Chimaev

    “I’m impressed with how he holds on the ground, but I expected an exciting fight. I wasn’t expecting Dricus to be stuck in the crucifix like that for so long.”

    “People don’t want to watch guys hugging for 25 minutes. This is not good for the sport. They need to put me in there against him.”

    Chimaev will obviously be the favorite for a fight like this, but we may have to wait a bit longer before we see it. After all, Costa is behind a few others in the pecking order, and it feels like Khamzat’s focus right now is on Reinier de Ridder.

  • Paulo Costa is ‘Delusional’ Says Ranked UFC Contender

    Paulo Costa is ‘Delusional’ Says Ranked UFC Contender

    UFC middleweight Caio Borralho has called out Paulo Costa as being ‘delusional’ by suggesting that he wants to be the backup for a UFC middleweight championship fight.

    As we know, Paulo Costa is a pretty interesting chap. He has been known as one of the top contenders in the middleweight division, and also one of the most outlandish. In his most recent outing against Roman Kopylov, though, he was far more measured than usual. He was able to pick up a pretty nice win that reminded the masses of what he’s capable of at 185 pounds.

    Of course, in order to get all the way back to a world title shot, Paulo Costa will have to put in a fair bit more work. The Brazilian sensation certainly has the potential to mix it up with a lot of top guys in the middleweight division, but in equal measure, there are plenty of others who currently sit ahead of him in the pecking order.

    One would argue that the perfect example of that is Caio Borralho. These two men have made their dislike for one another fairly clear in the past but in case it wasn’t obvious enough, he had the following to say about Paulo Costa in a recent interview.

    Caio Borralho goes after Paulo Costa

    “Paulo Costa wanting to be the backup? The backup is just delusional. The guy is coming from four losses in six fights. He didn’t win a fight in like three years.”

    Could this be a fight to make in the future? We’ll have to wait and see.

  • Reinier de Ridder isn’t too concerned by possible Paulo Costa fight

    Reinier de Ridder isn’t too concerned by possible Paulo Costa fight

    UFC star Reinier de Ridder doesn’t seem too concerned by the possibility of facing Paulo Costa at some point in the future.

    As we know, Reinier de Ridder is coming off the back of a huge win in which he narrowly defeated Robert Whittaker. Paulo Costa, meanwhile, just saw off the challenge of Roman Kopylov, getting himself back into the win column in the process. Costa has made it known that he’s interested in fighting RDR, but of course, the Brazilian is a bit further down the pecking order right now.

    Reinier de Ridder could easily be in line for the next title shot against the winner of Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev. While there’s no guarantee it that, it certainly feels like a distinct possibility.

    When asked about Paulo Costa in a recent interview, Reinier de Ridder had the following to say.

    Reinier de Ridder dismisses Paulo Costa

    “He’s a funny dude. It would lead to a nice press conference and a nice build-up, but I don’t give a f*ck what he says,” De Ridder said. “You can call me whatever you want to call me. Call me gay every day of the week. I don’t mind. Maybe one day (we’ll fight). But at the moment, I don’t think he’s there. I don’t think he’s at my level – though he did do very well in his last fight.

    “He does pretty well against southpaws with the body kick and the straight right hand. So, he’s alright, but I think he has some work to do first.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Paulo Costa Slams ‘One Dimensional’ Khamzat Chimaev: “I’m coming for you”

    Paulo Costa Slams ‘One Dimensional’ Khamzat Chimaev: “I’m coming for you”

    UFC middleweight Paulo Costa has reiterated his desire to square off with Khamzat Chimaev as the rivalry between the two men continues to intensify.

    As we know, Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev aren’t big fans of one another. It certainly seems like they’re both interested in the idea of squaring off but right now, their paths don’t quite align. Costa is coming off the back of a win over Roman Kopylov, whereas Chimaev is just a matter of weeks away from challenging Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship.

    There are lots of interesting things happening at 185 pounds right now and this is certainly one of them. For Paulo Costa, this is an incredibly personal matter – but it’s not quite clear as to whether or not Khamzat sees it the same way. Whatever the case may be, it’s hard not to be drawn in and be intrigued by their rivalry.

    In a recent interview, Paulo Costa once again went after Khamzat Chimaev and made it known that he’s coming after him.

    Paulo Costa calls out Khamzat Chimaev

    “Khamzat’s game is so one-dimensional—he shoots for the legs instantly. Everyone knows that.”

    Will these two ever see eye to eye? It certainly seems unlikely. Will they ever fight? Potentially. Will it be an official contest sanctioned by the UFC? It’s hard to say. One thing we know is this: we need at least one press conference with these two throwing verbal bombs at each other, and we need it yesterday.

  • “Paulo Costa Is Back!” – Fans & Fighters React To Paulo Costa Putting On Vintage Performance In Decision Over Roman Kopylov At UFC 318

    “Paulo Costa Is Back!” – Fans & Fighters React To Paulo Costa Putting On Vintage Performance In Decision Over Roman Kopylov At UFC 318

    Paulo Costa is back in the win column once again, stopping the up-and-coming Roman Kopylov in the co-main event of UFC 318.

    Costa found success by varying his strikes and mixing things up during the opening frame, while it seemed like Kopylov didn’t get into second gear. Costa then rocked Kopylov before the end of the round.

    Costa continued to find success with his striking, especially with his kicks, staying patient on the outside and picking his spots. Costa would rock Kopylov twice more in the second round — though Kopylov picked it up a little bit toward the end of the second.

    Costa appeared to be tiring in the third round but maintained control of the fight’s pace, using his footwork and head movement to avoid Kopylov’s strikes. That is until Kopylov briefly stunned him in the middle of the third.

    Costa scored a unanimous decision win and, as previously stated, called out Khamzat Chimaev — who challenges for the middleweight title next month at UFC 319.

    Paulo Costa Outworks Roman Kopylov At UFC 318

    https://twitter.com/PCStricklandMMA/status/1946787789128786236

    Costa entered tonight with losses in four of his previous five after starting his MMA career 11-0. Last year, Costa suffered losses to former middleweight champions Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland.

    Kopylov entered tonight with six wins in his last seven, including a finish of Chris Curtis in January.

  • Paulo Costa Vows To Call Out ‘Coward’ Khamzat Chimaev After UFC 318 – ‘I Want To Hurt Him’

    Paulo Costa Vows To Call Out ‘Coward’ Khamzat Chimaev After UFC 318 – ‘I Want To Hurt Him’

    Paulo Costa has no plans to let his heated rivalry with Khamzat Chimaev cool off anytime soon.

    The two fighters share a well-documented grudge that dates back years. They were slated to settle their differences at UFC 294 in October 2023, but the matchup was scrapped just under two weeks out when Costa withdrew due to surgery. Despite the cancellation, tensions never eased as the duo continued to take shots at each other through relentless social media exchanges.

    Now, after spending over a year on the sidelines, Paulo Costa is set to make his return to the Octagon this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 318, where he’ll take on Roman Kopylov at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. However, “Borrachinha” already has his eyes set on what comes next, with a potential grudge match against Chimaev firmly on his radar.

    Paulo Costa Says Khamzat Chimaev Must Pay For DMing His Girlfriend

    Speaking to media during UFC 318 fight week, Paulo Costa addressed his ongoing feud with Khamzat Chimaev. The former middleweight title challenger made it clear he’s locked in ahead of his bout with Roman Kopylov, aiming to deliver a statement win before calling out “Borz” to finally settle their long-standing feud inside the Octagon. “Borrachinha” emphasized that he doesn’t care whether the undefeated Russian wins or loses against reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 — the fight between them needs to happen regardless.

    The Brazilian powerhouse revealed that his feud with Chimaev has become intensely personal after the “Borz” allegedly sent unsolicited messages to his girlfriend following the cancellation of their scheduled bout.

    “I want to fight [Chimaev] very badly,” Paulo Costa said. “I want to hurt him. It doesn’t matter if he won that fight or not. It doesn’t matter. We need to fight. He talk very bad things about me, in my girl’s Instagram DMs, so this is totally personal. I feel angry just to hear his name, so we need to fight. We are young, we’re going to be on line, so I’m going to do my best Saturday… I’m pretty sure I’m going to get the victory and I’m going to call his name, it doesn’t matter whether he wins or not. This fight just will not happen if he retires.”

    Costa didn’t hold back, accusing Chimaev of lacking character for sending direct messages to his partner rather than confronting him directly.

    “Not the kind of things a real man, confident man would do. Why he message her? Why he didn’t message me instead of her? Coward. He is a coward.”

    “Borrachinha” last competed at UFC 302 in June 2024, where he dropped a hard-fought split decision to former champion Sean Strickland. The loss marked another setback in what has been a challenging stretch for Costa, who has now gone just 1-4 in his last five appearances inside the Octagon.

    Paulo Costa UFC 318 callout
    Image: @borrachinhamma/Instagram

  • Paulo Costa: How The Sean Strickland Fight Fundamentally Changed Him – In His Own Words

    UFC middleweight Paulo Costa has spoken openly about how he mixed things up following his defeat to Sean Strickland.

    Once upon a time, Paulo Costa was considered to be the next big thing in mixed martial arts. After a series of impressive victories, he was given the opportunity to challenge Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight championship. Unfortunately for him, it didn’t quite go to plan, and he wound up being finished with relative ease by the man known as ‘Stylebender’.

    Ever since then, he hasn’t really been himself. Paulo Costa has shown glimpses of brilliance but for the most part, he hasn’t been able to live up to the potential that everyone once believed he had. Tonight, he’ll return to the cage at UFC 318 where he will meet Roman Kopylov in what is something of a ‘do or die’ fight for him and his future in the promotion.

    In his media day interview, Paulo Costa spoke about his loss to Sean Strickland and how that helped him to change his mentality.

  • Paulo Costa Is Expecting a Quick Finish at UFC 318 – Ready for Dangerous Southpaw War

    UFC middleweight Paulo Costa is expecting a quick finish as he prepares to battle Roman Kopylov at UFC 318 this weekend.

    On Saturday night, Paulo Costa will attempt to get his mixed martial arts career back on track. Following a string of losses, many have been left to wonder what kind of future he has in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He’ll attempt to answer that question when he stands across from Roman Kopylov – a man who is bound to give him a tough fight.

    We’ve seen the best and worst of Paulo Costa throughout the course of his UFC run and on more than one occasion, he was tipped to be the next big thing, either at 185 pounds or light heavyweight. Either way, though, things haven’t quite panned out as he would’ve hoped, and this could be his last real opportunity to showcase himself for the world to see.

    In a recent interview, Paulo Costa opened up on what he plans to do at UFC 318.

    Paulo Costa aims for quick finish at UFC 318

    “I know how to fight against southpaw. He’s dangerous … but I’m very prepared for that and I’m excited. This fight going to be short—not so long. I think two rounds, maybe even the first round.”

    Costa is an unpredictable guy both in and outside of the cage, and while that can be good in some instances, he needs to find a game plan and stick to it here if he’s serious about becoming a contender.

  • Report: Paulo Costa’s First Fight Since Sean Strickland Dud Targeted For UFC 317

    Should current plans come to fruition, UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa will bring to an end a one-year layoff at this year’s edition of International Fight Week.

    Costa (14-4) went 0-2 last year after returning to action for the first time since a 2022 win over Luke Rockhold. After playing his part in a memorable three-round battle with Robert Whittaker, “Borrachinha” figured in the opposite versus Sean Strickland.

    While he also lost via the scorecards to the American former champ, their five-round affair at UFC 302 last June was widely criticized and branded lackluster.

    In the aftermath, Costa vowed to return to the all-out aggression that he formerly displayed inside the Octagon. And a recent report suggests he’ll have the chance to do so on June 28.

    According to Benny P — an Australian insider who has frequently broken news regarding the likes of Jack Della Maddalena and Robert Whittaker — a clash between Costa and the #15-ranked Roman Kopylov (14-3) is in the works for UFC 317.

    Kopylov opened his account for 2025 by stopping Chris Curtis with a last-second head kick at the Apex in January. Having previously outpointed Cesar Almeida, the Russian has now won two straight since Anthony Hernandez handed him his only loss across the past seven fights.

    There are currently no confirmed fights for UFC 317 on June 28. But with it set to mark the conclusion of International Fight Week this year, a stacked lineup is expected to take shape.