Paulo Costa News

Cole Shelton - July 21, 2020

Dan Hardy believes Paulo Costa won’t fare too well against the top of the middleweight division. Costa is currently 13-0 and coming off a decision win over Yoel Romero. He has also won 11 fights by knockout including being 5-0 inside the Octagon. Yet, for Hardy, he doesn’t think the Brazilian fares too well against the elite of the division in Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, and Darren Till.

Tom Taylor - July 21, 2020

UFC President Dana White is not happy about the recent reports that Israel Adesanya will defend the UFC middleweight title against Paulo Costa at UFC 253. News of this UFC 253 middleweight title fight was first reported by Brazilian publication Combate, and subsequently confirmed by MMA Fighting.

Chris Taylor - July 18, 2020

Paulo Costa will get his first opportunity to fight for UFC gold when he squares off with middleweight champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 253. Following an initial report from Combate, BJPENN.com confirmed with sources that Costa will in fact square off with Adesanya at the September 19 pay-per-view event.

Chris Taylor - July 18, 2020

It appears fight fans will finally get to see undefeated middleweights Paulo Costa and Israel Adesanya throw down inside of the Octagon. Initially, it looked like the highly anticipated title fight might occur in late 2019. Unfortunately, that plan was derailed by a Costa bicep injury, and Adesanya ultimately accepted a title defense against Yoel Romero in March instead.

Cole Shelton - July 6, 2020

Wallid Ismail claims Israel Adesanya has turned Paulo Costa down for UFC 251 and UFC 252. Ever since Paulo Costa beat Yoel Romero at UFC 241 last August, it was expected the Brazilian would fight the winner of Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Whittaker. Ultimately, it was “The Last Stylebender” who got the job done against Whittaker, and he and Costa were then targeted to fight in March. Yet, Costa suffered an injury so Adesanya defended his belt against Yoel Romero instead.

Cole Shelton - July 4, 2020

Eric Albarracin knows the stakes are high for a potential Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa matchup. Ever since Adesanya became the UFC’s middleweight champion, it was expected his first title defense would be against Paulo Costa. Yet, the Brazilian got hurt and Adesanya ended up fighting Yoel Romero.

Tom Taylor - July 1, 2020

Coach Eugene Bareman, the head coach behind UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, recently addressed rumors that Adesanya will coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter against top middleweight contender Paulo Costa. Adesanya and Costa have long been linked to a middleweight title fight, but the bout has not yet been made official. UFC commentator Joe Rogan recently divulged that he heard the plan was to have Adesanya and Costa coach TUF, which would require additional negotiations—hence the delay. That comment from Rogan caused widespread speculation that an Adesanya vs. Costa TUF season is indeed the plan.

Cole Shelton - June 25, 2020

Paulo Costa is getting frustrated with Israel Adesanya. Ever since Costa beat Yoel Romero by unanimous decision at UFC 241, it was expected he would fight the winner of Robert Whittaker vs. Adesanya at UFC 243. The Brazilian was there Octagon-side and following the event, it was reported him and “The Last Stylebender” would meet in March.

Christopher Taylor - June 21, 2020

Reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones buried top middleweight contender Paulo Costa this evening on social media. ‘Bones’ took to Twitter shortly following the conclusion of tonight’s UFC on ESPN 11 event where he shared the following direct messages sent to him by ‘The Eraser’.

Cole Shelton - June 18, 2020

Paulo Costa has set his price to coach The Ultimate Fighter and fight Israel Adesanya. Dana White has recently said TUF is coming back and named a few possibilities of who may coach the season. One pairing fans were eager to see was Adesanya and Costa. The two have a massive rivalry, so it would make for good TV. It would also set up their middleweight title fight, which is expected to happen later this year.

Natasha Hooper - June 9, 2020

Jon Jones has found another adversary in the form of middleweight contender Paulo Costa. As of recent, Costa has been calling out UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. He called their rivalry much bigger than that of Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen, and is ready to erase him in a title fight. Adesanya responded by promising to ‘punish’ Costa in a matchup. The middleweight champion also accused Costa of being a “juiced-up monkey.”

Tom Taylor - May 27, 2020

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya claims Francis Ngannou gave Paulo Costa a serious scare in the crowd at UFC 248. Adesanya fought in the main event of UFC 248, successfully defending his title against Yoel Romero with a decision win. Costa, who is the next man in line for a middleweight title shot, was allegedly heckling the champ from cage-side—until Ngannou intervened.

Cole Shelton - May 20, 2020

Eric Albarracin has high expectations for Israel Adesanya vs Paulo Costa. Adesanya and Costa have been going back-and-forth at one another for months a fight between them seems likely. It would see both men put their undefeated records on the line, in what Albarracin says will be the greatest middleweight title fight in history.

Tom Taylor - May 4, 2020

The gym closures and social distancing measures associated with the coronavirus pandemic have not stopped UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa from maintaining his physique. The Brazilian middleweight, who is expected to get the next crack at the division’s reigning champion Israel Adesanya, is looking as monstrous as ever, despite the challenges created by the pandemic.

Chris Taylor - May 2, 2020

Paulo Costa has some questions for Chael Sonnen following the former UFC middleweight title challengers recent praise of current division champion Israel Adesanya. Sonnen has boasted about Adesanya in recent weeks, even going as far as to suggest that ‘Stylebender’ would “whip” current UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones in a potential fight.

Natasha Hooper - April 29, 2020

Israel Adesanya is ready to confront Paulo Costa, Mortal Kombat-style, on the UFC’s much discussed Fight Island. The UFC has had to put multiple fight cards on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. This has given Paulo Costa the time to heal from surgery and prepare for an anticipated middleweight title fight with Adesanya.

Adam D Martin - April 19, 2020

UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa spoke about the effects of blows to the head in MMA and says he’s willing to donate his brain for research. Costa is one of the top middleweights in MMA and is known for pulverizing his opponents’ heads and being the one who dishes out the damage. But in a recent interview with AG Fight, Costa admitted he thinks about the effects of blows to the head on his brain, and it’s the reason why he plans on retiring from the sport by the time he’s 36.

Harry Kettle - March 24, 2020

Dr. Lucas Penchel has been handed a two-year suspension from USADA in relation to a violation involving UFC middleweight Paulo Costa and his brother Carlos. Back in April 2019, the Costa brothers had been issued six-month suspensions as a result of IVs that were administered to them by Penchel. While they were permitted substances, but the amount given was over the allowed limit.