Paulo Costa is staying put.
After a recent contract dispute dissolved his potential UFC 284 clash with Robert Whittaker in Feb. 2023, Costa has agreed with the promotion on a new four-fight deal. Costa credits his new manager — his girlfriend, Tamara Alves — for sorting things out after a seemingly tumultuous brief period in UFC.
“I haven’t signed the contract yet but we have reached a deal with the UFC regarding the pay,” Costa told PVT (h/t MMA Fighting). “It wasn’t easy, there was a lot of hard work, and I have to highlight Tamara’s brilliant work here.”
Costa last fought in Aug. 2022 at UFC 278, battling it out in a Fight of the Night against former Middleweight titleholder, Luke Rockhold. The Brazilian bested Rockhold, earning a unanimous decision (watch highlights) to snap a two-fight skid that began with his Sept. 2020 title shot against Israel Adesanya.
Whittaker seems to be out of the equation for Costa after things fell through the first time. Costa noted that he’s been presented with a fight against Sean Strickland on a May date along with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Oct. 21, 2023.
“I want that, too,” Costa said of facing both men back-to-back in 2023. “[The UFC] wants to make sure this Chimaev fight happen at all costs, but I want to make both happen. We’ll see.”
The foundation was laid for a Costa vs. Chimaev clash in Sept. 2022 after the two had a run-in at the UFC Performance Institute (P.I.) during Chimaev’s UFC 279 fight week. Nothing physical went down between the two as only words were exchanged, but later in the week, Chimaev shared that he wasn’t interested in fighting Costa.
Gotta get that 6ix9ine defense money
Him vs Khamzat would be an entertaining buildup
Bones got Renewed
Holly Got Renewed
Why Not ?
Khamzat seems to take himself so seriously. I would love a press conference of Costa just trolling the shit out of him.
tea
Paulo vs Whittaker
-VS- Khazmat, Strickland, Whittaker in that order.
I might pay to see paulo fight cumshot. I dont think he’d win but he’d definitely get in his head leading up to the fight.
If Burns can drop him, Costa can follow up and TKO him. That would put Costa as the most loved fighter on the UG by far.
I like Costa man, I’m happy to see they could come to an agreement. In this age of watered down fight cards, you can’t dispute the entertainment factor that he brings.
Costa rules. I want to see him fuck Strickland up really badly.
Need to pay this man and get him a fight asap
UFC top men also know that he has a solid following on the Twitter.
Smart of the UFC to pay up. He is one of the most entertaining and charismatic fighters around. Hopefully with the new contract he gets more active.
Waste of money.
