Paulo Costa is itching to keep his momentum rolling in the UFC light heavyweight division. Yet it hasn’t been easy to find the right fight for the final fight of his contract.
In a recent social media tirade, Costa, 35, vented his frustrations over being sidelined. “Borrachinha” last fought in March, when he scored an impressive knockout of the previously unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov. The layoff has tested the patience of the Brazilian contender.
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Speaking in-studio in Las Vegas on Monday’s edition of “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Costa revealed he was contacted about replacing Khalil Rountree Jr. in the UFC Abu Dhabi main event on July 25 against Magomed Ankalaev. Instead, Costa declined what would’ve been the final fight of his deal, prompting Bogdan Guskov to take Rountree’s place.
“I’m looking for a fight, but not a short-notice, five-round fight in Abu Dhabi,” Costa told Uncrowned. “They offered that fight just to get a no as an answer from me. They extended [my contract] for six months [because of that]. I think there were some misunderstandings and mistakes — I don’t understand exactly how they configure these things, and extensions and stuff. I’m not a lawyer. You need to know the small letters on the contract stuff. But I’m a fighter. I just fight.
“Dana White and [UFC CBO] Hunter [Campbell] came up to me after my last fight and said, ‘I think this is the biggest victory of your career.’ Maybe. And now, nothing’s happened.
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“I’m looking for a fight, and they didn’t offer me a proper fight,” Costa continued. “Give me eight weeks to fight somebody else. I don’t care who. I even opened the door to middleweight or heavyweight. Of course, I’d prefer to fight for interim belt. I think I deserve that opportunity right now. If you look at the history, people who come from losses don’t fight for the belt right after. So, I’m able to fight [for it].”
Costa’s light heavyweight move came at a perfect time, considering the result.
The 205-pound division fell into immediate disarray the same night Costa beat Murzakanov. At UFC 327, Carlos Ulberg pulled off a miraculous knockout of Jiri Prochazka to become the new champion. Ulberg unfortunately tore his ACL in the process, throwing the direction of the division in question, and opening up the idea of an interim strap.
At this point, Costa simply wants to wrap up his current UFC contract more than anything and has kept in contact with the company about his next move.
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“I talked with Hunter and [my manager] Tiki [Ghosn] yesterday. I told them, ‘I’m a chaos agent. I’m a very conflicted guy. I want the beef, I want the confrontation, so don’t tread on me, please,'” Costa said.
“I’m here to win, like we’re at a poker table. I like to try my luck — to gamble. I’m a gambler. And I appreciate Dana White. Dana White doesn’t take care of [UFC matchmaking] business anymore. I don’t know what he’s doing right now, but he’s kind of the same guy — he likes the fire, to be very close to the fire, you know? Maybe just touch and, ‘Oh, this is fire, this is very hot. But I like to feel the warmth of the thing.’ I think the same way.
“Dana is the guy who looks eye-to-eye, and it’s different from Hunter. Hunter is a lawyer, attorney. … I told him, ‘You know, guys. What you’re doing looks bad on the company and yourself. You guys try too much, push too much, using your power against fighters who are vulnerable. You’re a good attorney, you know these extensions. This stuff is clearly trying to manipulate and push for your side. It doesn’t make you look good.’ When I go public with that, you turn around looking bad.”
Paulo Costa made a big jump into light heavyweight contention with his win over Azamat Murzakanov.
(Carmen Mandato via Getty Images)
The discussions with UFC brass haven’t been promising thus far, said Costa. He hasn’t received a new fight offer but has ideas on how to make headway. A potentially big assist could come from Matchroom Talent Agency’s Eddie Hearn, whom Costa has briefly chatted with and plans to meet with in California in a couple of days.
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Obviously, that interaction could lead to multiple outcomes for Costa, considering the ongoing rivalry between Hearn and White. Costa ultimately isn’t expecting to get his desired outcome of a UFC interim title fight without a longterm deal signed.
“I don’t think they’re going to give me a proper fight if this is going to be my last one, unless I sign a longterm new deal,” Costa said. “It means I need to re-sign a contract with the company just to fight for interim belt. I want to finish this contract, or give me an offer. Give me a big offer, not a s*** offer. Give me a good offer and we’re going to talk. They prefer not [to] talk. They’d rather not come to the table. They feel I am in very good position and they’re in a bad position right now, weaker position, because I’m coming off a great win, and nobody else [in light heavyweight contention] is coming off a victory.
“If you don’t give me an offer, just give me a fight. Either way, I’m going to fight for an interim belt or [have] one fight and be free [from the UFC].”
Having been in the UFC since 2017, Costa (16-4) has seen his fair share of ups and downs. Performance-wise, he appears to be back on track, in arguably better form than ever before.
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Costa isn’t trying to bite the hand that feeds. He’s just confident in knowing his worth and believes all fighters are underappreciated in some way.
“I’m not an idiot. I know I’m a popular guy. I can do different kinds of things, and they know this as well,” Costa said. “I’m very grateful for UFC. They helped me grow my brand. I have ‘Secret Juice’ [drink product] right now, and this is due to my UFC popularity. But yeah, let’s talk. Let’s be fair. I just want to be fair. I just want to be a nice guy.
“[UFC fighters] should look out for ourselves more than we do. People are afraid to speak. I’m not. Why? I’m grateful, but I’m not indebted to the company. But because I know my value, some people are maybe not so confident. That’s why, ‘Oh, I need to be quiet.'”
