Paulo Costa News
Paulo Costa explains why he is not fighting Jared Cannonier, blasts the UFC over fighter pay
Chris Taylor - June 5, 2021
Paulo Costa has issued a statement after it was announced that he will no longer be headlining a UFC event on August 21 opposite Jared Cannonier. Early last month reports surfaced suggesting that a deal was done to have Costa (13-1 MMA) and Cannonier (13-5 MMA) square off on August 21 at a location to be determined.
Paulo Costa withdraws from UFC fight with Jared Cannonier, Kelvin Gastelum set as replacement
Christopher Taylor - June 4, 2021
Paulo Costa has been forced to withdraw from his slated UFC fight with Jared Cannonier and will be replaced by fellow middleweight Kelvin Gastelum. Costa (13-1 MMA) and Cannonier (13-5 MMA) were expected to headliner a UFC event on August 21 in a location still to be determined. However, according to ESPN‘s Brett Okamoto, ‘The Eraser’ has been forced to withdraw from the bout and will be replaced by former TUF winner Kelvin Gastelum.
Darren Till vs. Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier vs. Paulo Costa betting odds released
Adam D Martin - May 17, 2021
The opening betting odds have been released for two upcoming UFC fights, Darren Till vs. Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier vs. Paulo Costa. The UFC recently revealed that Till vs. Brunson will headline the promotion’s Fight Night card on August 14, while Cannonier vs. Costa will headline a Fight Night card on August 21. With both fights coming up in just a few months from now, the oddsmakers were quick to get out the opening odds for both matchups. See the odds below (via BestFightOdds).
Paulo Costa set to return in August main event opposite Jared Cannonier
Drake Riggs - May 12, 2021
Two of the middleweight division’s top contenders are set to rebound off of recent losses against one another. It’s Paulo Costa vs. Jared Cannonier. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto confirmed the fight through UFC President Dana White on Wednesday. The tandem of top 5 ranked UFC middleweights will do battle in a five-round main event taking place on August 21. The fight night event’s location has yet to be determined.
Paulo Costa reveals timeframe for return to Octagon, suggests two potential opponents
Adam D Martin - March 17, 2021
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa revealed the timeframe for his return to the Octagon, and he suggested two potential opponents for it. Costa was set to fight Robert Whittaker in a potential No. 1 contender match at a UFC Fight Night card on April 17, but the fight fell apart because Costa is currently sick. The UFC didn’t want to take a chance that he wouldn’t be ready for the fight, so the promotion pulled Costa and replaced him with Kelvin Gastelum. While Gastelum benefits from Costa’s bad luck, the Brazilian continues to try and get better after battling the flu and COVID-19.
Coach provides details on Paulo Costa's current health
Harry Kettle - March 17, 2021
Paulo Costa‘s coach & brother has provided some more details on the current health of the UFC middleweight contender. It was recently reported that Costa has been forced out of his highly anticipated April 17 fight against Robert Whittaker, a fight many saw as a potential No. 1 contender bout at 185lbs. At the time, it was said Costa had been suffering from a severe case of the flu.
Paulo Costa forced out of UFC fight with Robert Whittaker
Christopher Taylor - March 15, 2021
Paulo Costa will no longer be fighting former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker on April 17 as previously planned. After initial report from Ag.Fight suggested that the Costa vs. Whittaker bout was in jeopardy, MMAFighting has since confirmed that ‘The Eraser’ will no longer be competing at UFC Fight Night 188.
Paulo Costa claims “Sober Costa” is still “undefeated"
Cole Shelton - March 2, 2021
Paulo Costa has jokingly responded after all the backlash he received for saying he fought Israel Adesanya with a hangover. Costa had entered the Adesanya fight sporting an undefeated record, but something appeared to be off in the scrap. With that said, it was “The Last Stylebender” who emerged victorious by way of second-round TKO.
Israel Adesanya reacts after Paulo Costa suggests he was hungover in their fight at UFC 253
Harry Kettle - March 2, 2021
UFC middleweight king Israel Adesanya has issued a reaction to Paulo Costa’s claim he was hungover for the UFC 253 showdown. Adesanya put on a real show when he defended his UFC Middleweight Championship against Costa, dominating and finishing the Brazilian star to successfully retain his title. Now, this Saturday at UFC 259, he’ll attempt to become a two-weight world champion when he challenges Jan Blachowicz for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Daniel Cormier absolutely rips Paulo Costa for suggesting he lost to Israel Adesanya due to a hangover
Christopher Taylor - March 1, 2021
Daniel Cormier did not hold back while addressing Paulo Costa’s recent claim that he fought Israel Adesanya with a hangover at UFC 253. On Sunday, ‘The Eraser’ shocked fight fans when he suggested that the night before UFC 253, he downed an entire bottle of wine.
Cub Swanson scolds Paulo Costa for suggesting he fought Israel Adesanya with a hangover: “How dumb can you be?”
Harry Kettle - March 1, 2021
UFC veteran Cub Swanson isn’t happy with Paulo Costa claiming he was hungover when he fought Israel Adesanya at UFC 253. The bout between Costa and Adesanya on Fight Island, which was contested for the UFC Middleweight Championship, wasn’t particularly close — and you won’t find many fighters or fans who disagree with that.
Paulo Costa claims he drank a bottle of wine the night before his title fight with Israel Adesanya
Adam Martin - February 28, 2021
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa claimed that he drank too much wine the night before his title fight with Israel Adesanya at UFC 253. The then-undefeated Costa was considered a live dog to defeat the champion Adesanya, but he proved to be an easy night at the office for the champion, who picked him apart with strikes from the outside before knocking Costa out. It was a fantastic performance by Adesanya, for sure, but it was still hard to believe Costa couldn’t offer more resistance. And now, the Brazilian is speaking out and explaining just why he performed so poorly, blaming it on a night of drinking, a decision that Costa surely wishes he hadn’t made.
Paulo Costa has seriously trimmed down since his loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 253 (Video)
Christopher Taylor - February 7, 2021
Paulo Costa has trimmed down considerably following his loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 253 this past September. Costa and Adesanya squared off for the promotions middleweight championship September 27 on Fight Island. Both men had entered the highly anticipated matchups sporting perfect professional records.
Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa opening betting odds released
Adam Martin - January 27, 2021
The opening betting odds have been released for the upcoming middleweight bout between top contenders Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa. It was announced this week that Whittaker and Costa will meet in a five-round, non-title main event at a UFC Fight Night event scheduled for April 17. Both men had conveyed interest in an interim or vacant title fight with UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya fighting up at 205lbs in his next bout, but the promotion decided to just make it a non-title five-rounder, with the winner likely in line for a title shot.
Report | Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa headlines UFC Fight Night card in April
Adam Martin - January 25, 2021
A middleweight bout between contenders Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa is reportedly being targeted for a UFC Fight Night card on April 17. Sherdog.com first reported that Whittaker vs. Costa is being targeted for the April 17 date, though a location has not been confirmed yet. The report suggests Las Vegas as a possible destination for the event. But with coronavirus-related travel restrictions, especially for international fighters, UFC president Dana White recently admitted that he isn’t sure where fights are going to be held in the coming months.
Team Paulo Costa "terrorizing" Dana White for Robert Whittaker matchup
Adam Martin - January 13, 2021
UFC president Dana White said that Team Paulo Costa has been “terrorizing” him to book a matchup against Robert Whittaker. Whittaker and Costa are the No. 1 and No. 2 contenders, respectively, in the UFC middleweight division, behind only champion Israel Adesanya. With the champ moving up to 205lbs for his next fight, it’s put the 185lbs division in a bit of a tricky situation moving forward. There’s no guarantee Adesanya will even return to the weight class should he defeat Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight belt at UFC 259, so the rest of the top contenders are essentially stuck in limbo at the moment.
Dana White on potential Marvin Vettori vs. Paulo Costa matchup: "Love it"
Adam Martin - December 6, 2020
UFC president Dana White said that he would “love” to watch a potential middleweight bout between Marvin Vettori and Paulo Costa. Vettori picked up the biggest win of his UFC career to date on Saturday night when he won a unanimous decision over Jack Hermansson in a “Fight of the Night” war between two of the best middleweights in the world. With the win, Vettori figures to take Hermansson’s spot at No. 4 in the UFC rankings. As for Costa, despite a TKO loss to Israel Adesanya in their title fight at UFC 254, he is ranked No. 2 right now.
Marvin Vettori backtracks on callout of Paulo Costa, makes case for title shot instead
Adam D Martin - December 6, 2020
UFC middleweight Marvin Vettori backtracked on his callout of Paulo Costa, shifting his target to UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Vettori picked up a unanimous decision win over Jack Hermansson in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Vegas 16 event. It was the biggest win of Vettori’s UFC career over the No. 4 ranked fighter in the promotion in Hermansson. It’s the kind of win that will land Vettori a big fish in the pond his next time out, and the Italian wasted no time calling out two of the top fighters in the division: top contender Costa and UFC champion Adesanya.