Paulo Costa News

Tom Taylor - August 20, 2019

Former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre was tuned in for UFC 241, and just like everyone else who watched, he was blown away by the main card war between middleweight contenders Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa. During an appearance on Chael Sonnen’s podcast, the former middleweight champion gave his take on this riveting battle.

Christopher Taylor - August 18, 2019

Undefeated contender Paulo Costa has his sights set on a future matchup with current interim middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. The Brazilian standout, Costa (14-0 MMA), defeated former title challenger Yoel Romero by way of unanimous decision on the main card of last night’s UFC 241 event in Anaheim.

Christopher Taylor - August 18, 2019

UFC President Dana White spoke to media following the conclusion of UFC 241, where he shared his thoughts on tonight’s Yoel Romero vs. Paulo Costa fight. Speaking with ESPN‘s Brett Okamoto backstage, White had the following to say about Costa’s controversial decision victory over Romero.

Chris Taylor - August 17, 2019

A key middleweight bout between Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa took place on the main card of tonight’s UFC 241 event in Anaheim. Romero (13-3 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since suffering a controversial split-decision loss to Robert Whittaker at UFC 225 in June of 2018.

Fernando Quiles Jr. - August 14, 2019

Kenny Florian believes that Paulo Costa is not ready for a middleweight the caliber of Yoel Romero. Ready or not, Costa will indeed go one-on-one with “The Soldier of God” (see pros picks here) this Saturday night (Aug. 17). The bout will take place on the main card of UFC 241. The action will be held inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Cole Shelton - August 14, 2019

Paulo Costa has high expectations for himself heading into his UFC 241 fight against Yoel Romero. The Brazilian has been asking for this fight for a long time and now, after three previous attempts failed, the two will finally meet.

Cole Shelton - August 13, 2019

The UFC has stacked the deck for UFC 241, with the heavyweight title on the line and some very intriguing bouts on the main card. In one of those bouts, former middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero will take on Brazilian knockout artist Paulo Costa, who has been asking for this fight for a long time. Heading into the scrap, Romero is a -155 favorite while Costa is a +125 underdog.

Tom Taylor - July 11, 2019

Paulo Costa has always been a big middleweight. Heading into his UFC 241 showdown with former UFC middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero, he looks absolutely massive. Early on Thursday morning, the Brazilian knockout artist shared a photo to his Instagram account which shows him glazed in sweat, taking what is surely a well-deserved breather. His shoulders and arms look like those of a rhinoceros.

Drake Riggs - May 7, 2019

The UFC middleweight division homes several super talented competitors and at the very top, each is continually producing great fights. Two of the division’s most devastating finishers are undeniably the pairing of Cuba’s ‘Soldier of God,’ the Olympic silver medalist in wrestling, Yoel Romero (13-3) and Brazil’s knockout extraordinaire, Paulo Costa (12-0).

James Lynch - April 27, 2019

Paulo Costa has accepted a six month punishment from the USADA. The rising UFC middleweight agreed to a six-month suspension from USADA (U.S. Anti-Doping Agency) for violations in June and November of 2017. The suspensions were handed down August 10, 2018 and expired on February 10, 2019.

Tom Taylor - April 24, 2019

If you were hoping to see undefeated middleweight knockout artist Paulo Costa back in the cage soon, well, you might have some waiting to do. According to UFC vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky, Paulo Costa is still being investigated by the United States Anti-Doping Agency after being fined $9,333.33 by the New York State Athletic Commission for an unknown violation.

Chris Taylor - April 21, 2019

It is becoming very clear that current interim middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and surging contender Paulo Costa do not like each other. Following his thrilling five round decision victory over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236, Adesanya was targeted by Costa in a social media post.

Tom Taylor - April 14, 2019

On Saturday night, in the co-main event of the action-packed UFC 236 card, undefeated striking specialist Israel Adesanya claimed the interim middleweight title with a thrilling decision defeat of Kelvin Gastelum. In the wake of this win, Adesanya has been praised for his incredible efforts and also his ability to survive Gastelum’s many strong moments in the fight. Not everybody, however, is celebrating the new interim middleweight champion.

Drake Riggs - April 9, 2019

Last month it was announced that perennial top UFC middleweight contender, Yoel Romero would be rematching with Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza in the main event of UFC Fort Lauderdale on April 27. That is opposed to Romero fighting Paulo Costa who he was originally expected to face. Costa and Romero have been linked to fights with one another on two separate occasions now. The first of which was targeted for UFC 230 in November 2018. The reason for the fight not coming to fruition was due to Romero still recovering from a broken orbital bone.

Tom Taylor - April 4, 2019

Last night, we were hit with the unfortunate news that former UFC middleweight title challenger Yoel Romero had been forced out of the main event of UFC Fort Lauderdale with an illness. This left his opponent, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, without an opponent. According a report from Brazilian MMA news outlet Combate, the UFC has already found a new opponent for the man they call Jacare in streaking middleweight knockout artist Paulo Costa. This bout has not yet been officially confirmed by the UFC.

Tom Taylor - March 12, 2019

For a period, middleweight destroyers Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa were expected to collide this spring. In a surprising twist, however, Romero was then matched up with Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, leaving Costa without an opponent. Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday, Romero stated that he heard Paulo Costa had been flagged for a potential United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) violation — the reason he’s apparently been pulled from this fight.

Tom Taylor - September 24, 2018

Paulo Costa, an undefeated contender in the stacked UFC middleweight division, has big plans for his combat sports career. The 27-year-old Brazilian hopes to win the UFC middleweight title, then capture the UFC welterweight and light heavyweight titles, retain all three for a period, then retire from MMA and move to boxing. That’s what he calls his Plan A. His Plan B? He says he doesn’t have one, because a Plan B implies a failed Plan A.

Tom Taylor - August 23, 2018

Paulo Costa and Yoel Romero were originally expected to fight at UFC 230 on November 3 in New York City. Regrettably, Romero will not be able to compete on this card, as he’s still dealing with a lingering injury. “Maybe four or five months [until I can return],” Yoel Romero explained on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show this week. “The doctor said, ‘Yoel needs more time.’ You know me. If you give me somebody, I take it. But you need to be smart. When the doctor says, ‘You’re ready,’ you can go. I’m waiting.