Paulo Costa News

Harry Kettle - November 19, 2019

UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has spoken out about who he believes to be the biggest threat within his division. Adesanya finally completed his ascent to the top at middleweight back at UFC 243, as he defeated Robert Whittaker to claim the title. Ever since then we’ve heard a million and one different stories regarding what could be next for “The Last Stylebender”, with Yoel Romero emerging as the primary contender after Paulo Costa was put on the shelf through injury.

Cole Shelton - November 6, 2019

Israel Adesanya isn’t sure if Paulo Costa is really injured. The two were set to fight in early 2020, yet a bicep injury has Costa sidelined for eight months. However, Adesanya believes it may not be an injury after all. Instead, he thinks it very well may be a USADA issue.

Tom Taylor - October 31, 2019

When it was announced that Paulo Costa will not be able to fight Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight title due to a bicep injury, Yoel Romero quickly inserted himself into the conversation, calling for his own fight with Adesanya. This did not sit well with Costa, who defeated Romero with a razor close decision in August. Shortly after Romero targeted Adesanya on Instagram, he got a response from Costa.

Tom Taylor - October 30, 2019

Shortly after it came to light that an injury had forced Paulo Costa out of his planned title fight with UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya, Yoel Romero inserted himself into the conversation and called out the champ for a fight. He and Adesanya have since gone back and forth on social media, seemingly agreeing to a fight.

Fernando Quiles - October 14, 2019

Brendan Schaub isn’t sold on Paulo Costa being able to dethrone Israel Adesanya. The stage appears to be set for a middleweight title showdown between undisputed UFC 185-pound champion Adesanya and Costa. Sources told BJPENN.com that the matchup is being targeted for a March pay-per-view event. UFC president Dana White later confirmed that the promotion is looking at booking Adesanya vs. Costa next.

Cole Shelton - October 7, 2019

Israel Adesanya will have his first title defense against Paulo Costa this March in Las Vegas.  Sources told BJPENN.com the two camps are in preliminary talks and a date has been agreed upon. The UFC flew Paulo Costa out to Australia to watch the fight between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker, where following the fight they started negotiations. 

Cole Shelton - October 6, 2019

The opening odds have been released for a potential middleweight title fight between champion Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa. Adesanya called for a fight with Costa after he beat Robert Whittaker on Saturday to win the middleweight title.

Adam D Martin - October 6, 2019

UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa was not happy that new UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya flipped him the bird following his knockout win over Robert Whittaker in the main event of UFC 243. “The Last Stylebender” scaled the Octagon, looked right at Costa in the audience, and stuck his middle fingers up at him. Costa was not amused by Adesanya’s actions.

Chris Taylor - October 5, 2019

Paulo Costa will be watching tonight’s UFC 243 middleweight title unification bout between Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker with great interest. The undefeated Brazilian, Costa (13-0 MMA), is expected to be the next man to challenge for the promotions coveted middleweight title.

Adam Martin - October 4, 2019

UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa has come on the offensive against interim champ Israel Adesanya. Costa says he badly wants to fight Adesanya after UFC 243, and he wants to put the pain on him. So much so that Costa says he wants Adesanya to be the first “kill” on his MMA record. Here’s what Costa wrote on Twitter in response to Adesanya recently calling him an “overly-inflated balloon animal.”

Adam D Martin - September 22, 2019

UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa put featherweight Jeremy Stephens on blast for not continuing to fight after getting accidentally poked in the eye by Yair Rodriguez in the main event of UFC Mexico City. Costa took to Twitter to criticize Stephens for not continuing to fight, insinuating that he doesn’t belong in the UFC. Here’s what “Borrachinha” said.

Cole Shelton - September 16, 2019

Paulo Costa will be in attendance at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia. But, he will not be there as a backup fighter to weigh-in. Instead, he will be there to watch the main event and see who he is fighting next. Of course, the main event of the card is the middleweight title fight between Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya. According to Paulo Costa, UFC President Dana White has promised him the next title shot.

Adam Martin - August 31, 2019

Despite a recommendation from the California State Athletic Commission to move up in weight, Paulo Costa’s manager says he won’t be moving up to 205lbs. Wallid Ismail, the colorful manager and interpreter for Costa and several other Brazilian MMA stars, told MMAFighting.com that Costa will stay at 185lbs.

Mike Heck - August 29, 2019

UFC 241 went down a couple of weeks ago in Anaheim, Calif., but the aftermath of the memorable event continues as six fighters — including Paulo Costa — have been recommended to move up a weight class by the California State Athletic Commission. Along with Costa, who defeated Yoel Romero in their middleweight featured bout at the event, bantamweights Brandon Davis, Manny Bermudez, and Kyung Ho Kang, women’s flyweight Sabina Mazo, and featherweight Sodiq Yusuff have been given the recommendation.

Tom Taylor - August 21, 2019

At UFC 241, Paulo Costa picked up the biggest win of his career, defeating Yoel Romero by unanimous decision — but it didn’t come easy. Romero gave Costa everything he had, and according to Costa, the Cuban also relied on a few “dirty” tactics. “He’s a nice guy, but he’s dirty,” Costa said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show (h/t MMA Junkie). “In the first round, when I make a hook in his face, he went down then got up very quickly. I say man I will knock him out in the first round because he feel my punch, my first punch, and I started hunting him in the Octagon. And when I close to knock him out, he point on something, anywhere, I don’t know. Like look there Paulo, and I lose concentration, because he point something, maybe his mouthpiece fall.

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

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.