Paulo Costa News
Luke Rockhold wants to return in June against Paulo Costa, as long as he makes weight: "I’m not here to fight f*****g cheaters"
Cole Shelton - February 17, 2022
Luke Rockhold is hoping to make his return in June against Paulo Costa. Rockhold has not fought since UFC 239 where he suffered a KO loss to Jan Blachowicz in his light heavyweight debut. Since then, he was booked to fight Sean Strickland at UFC 268, but was forced out of the bout due to an injury. Now, the former champion says he wants to face Costa next, as long as the Brazilian can make weight.
Marvin Vettori responds after Paulo Costa suggests he wants to end his life: “I know a bitch her name Felicia she hits harder than you”
Harry Kettle - February 4, 2022
UFC middleweight Marvin Vettori has hit out at Paulo Costa as the Brazilian continues to push for a rematch. Back in October, Marvin Vettori and Paulo Costa clashed in what turned out to be an impromptu light heavyweight bout – as well as a Fight of the Year contender. The contest was initially supposed to take place at 185 pounds, only for a fight week alteration to be made as a result of Costa’s weight issues.
Paulo Costa says he's "not even interested in fighting" unless he rematches Marvin Vettori next: "I want to hurt him"
Cole Shelton - February 1, 2022
Paulo Costa is only interested in fighting Marvin Vettori next. Costa and Vettori headlined a Fight Night card back in October that was full of drama. On fight week, Vettori revealed Costa was not going to make weight and it was reported the bout would be moved to a 195lbs catchweight. Yet, by the time the two ended up sharing the Octagon with one another, it was a light heavyweight scrap.
Joe Rogan believes loss to Israel Adesanya took a serious mental toll on Paulo Costa: “You look like a destroyer and then this skinny dude just lights you up”
Susan Cox - February 1, 2022
Joe Rogan during his recent podcast, ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ spoke about Paulo Costa’s second round TKO loss to Israel Adesanya and how the fight took a serious mental toll on Costa. Costa (13-2 MMA) and Adesanya (21-1 MMA) met at UFC 253 in September 2020 at the du Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The loss was Costa’s first in his professional MMA career.
TJ Dillashaw and Paulo Costa listed amongst the ten UFC fighters most-tested by USADA in 2021
Harry Kettle - January 4, 2022
TJ Dillashaw and Paulo Costa were amongst the ten most-tested UFC fighters of 2021 by USADA. Over the course of the last few years, we’ve seen USADA really ramp up their testing program when it comes to those on the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s roster. From heavyweight to strawweight and beyond, everyone is being tested – especially those who have ran into some problems in the past.
Sean Strickland not interested in fighting Darren Till, shares two ideal opponents for his next fight
Christopher Taylor - November 21, 2021
Sean Strickland is not interested in fighting Darren Till, but he’s provided two ideal opponents for his next UFC appearance. Strickland (24-3 MMA) was slated to compete against former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold earlier this month at UFC 268. Unfortunately, ‘Rocky’ was forced to pullout of the contest due to injury and Sean was removed from the card.
Jose Aldo criticizes Paulo Costa over recent weight miss: "It's a lack of respect"
Adam D Martin - November 11, 2021
Former UFC featherweight champion and current bantamweight contender Jose Aldo criticized Paulo Costa over his recent weight miss. Costa was supposed to fight Marvin Vettori last month in a middleweight bout that headlined UFC Vegas 41, but Costa showed up to fight week heavy. The fight was later turned into a light heavyweight contest, while Vettori won by decision. Although it was an awesome fight, the fact that Costa missed weight put a bit of a damper on his performance. Speaking to MMAFighting.com’s Guilherme Cruz in a recent interview, Aldo panned his fellow Brazilian for showing up to fight Vettori heavy and off weight.
Dana White doubles down on Paulo Costa moving up to light heavyweight: "He's a 205lbs fighter"
Adam D Martin - October 27, 2021
UFC president Dana White doubled down on Paulo Costa moving up to light heavyweight, saying that “he’s a 205lbs fighter now.” Costa showed up heavy to fight week last week and his planned middleweight bout against Marvin Vettori was moved up to light heavyweight after Costa couldn’t make the 185lbs middleweight limit. The fight turned out to be a war between two very tough and durable fighters, but ultimately, it was Vettori earning the decision. Either way, there was some thought that because Costa performed so well in the fight, and since it was his first time missing weight in the UFC, that White could cut him some slack and give him another chance to make the middleweight limit. Apparently not so.
Dan Hooker blasts Paulo Costa over giant weight miss: "That is just a massive 'F you' to the fans"
Adam D Martin - October 26, 2021
UFC lightweight Dan Hooker blasted middleweight Paulo Costa over his giant weight miss, saying “that is just a massive ‘F you’ to the fans.” Costa was set to fight Marvin Vettori in a middleweight bout that served as the main event of UFC Vegas 41, but Costa showed up heavy to fight week. Because he couldn’t make the 185lbs limit, the fight was then moved to a 195lbs catchweight, and then to the 205lbs light heavyweight limit. Costa was fined 30% of his purse and the fight went on at 205, with Vettori winning a unanimous decision in a back-and-forth fight.
Derek Brunson continues to troll Paulo Costa over his UFC Vegas 41 weight debacle
Harry Kettle - October 26, 2021
Derek Brunson is one of many UFC fighters who continues to tease Paulo Costa over his weight issues at UFC Vegas 41. In one of the most bizarre weight cut situations in the recent history of the UFC, Paulo Costa announced during a fight week interview that he wouldn’t be able to make it down to the middleweight limit. Instead, he wound up fighting Marvin Vettori at light heavyweight – 20 pounds higher.
Israel Adesanya reacts after Marvin Vettori defeats Paulo Costa at UFC Vegas 41
Christopher Taylor - October 25, 2021
Israel Adesanya clearly tuned in to watch his former opponents Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori square off at last Saturday’s UFC Vegas 41 event. The former middleweight title challengers, Costa and Vettori, were originally supposed to collide at their natural fighting weight of 185lbs. However, earlier in the fight week ‘The Eraser’ revealed he would not be able to make weight for the contest and thus the bout was moved to light heavyweight.
What's next for Marvin Vettori and Paulo Costa after UFC Vegas 41?
Cole Shelton - October 25, 2021
In the main event of UFC Vegas 41, top-five middleweights collided at light heavyweight as Mavrin Vettori took on Paulo Costa. Vettori entered the fight coming off a decision loss to Israel Adesanya back in June for the middleweight title. Prior to that, he was on a five-fight winning streak with wins over Kevin Holland and Jack Hermansson among others. Costa, meanwhile, was making his return after he suffered a TKO loss to Adesanya for the belt in September of 2020.
Paulo Costa issues statement following decision loss to Marvin Vettori at UFC Vegas 41
Adam D Martin - October 25, 2021
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa issued a statement following his unanimous decision loss to Marvin Vettori at UFC Vegas 41. Costa and Vettori went to war for 25 minutes in the main event of UFC Vegas 41. In what was originally scheduled to be a middleweight main event, the fight was shifted up to the light heavyweight division after Costa showed up heavy on fight week. Despite the weight issues, though, Costa put up one hell of a fight against Vettori. The two blown-up middleweights stood in the pocket and slugged it out for five rounds, with Vettori eventually winning the fight by unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards. It was a fantastic fight and one that Costa feels like he did enough in order to get his hand raised.
Daniel Cormier believes Paulo Costa may have been judged unfairly at UFC Vegas 41: “I’ve poked guys more and didn’t get a point taken away”
Harry Kettle - October 25, 2021
Daniel Cormier has questioned Jason Herzog’s decision to take a point from Paulo Costa on Saturday night. This past weekend saw Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori settle their rivalry in a dramatic UFC light heavyweight main event. The pair went to war in Las Vegas and while Vettori landed the decision win, Costa did a good job of hanging in there and making it competitive.
Dana White reveals the fight night weights of Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori at UFC Vegas 41
Adam Martin - October 24, 2021
UFC president Dana White revealed the fight night weights of Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori at Saturday night’s UFC Vegas 41 event. Costa and Vettori were originally scheduled to fight in a 185lbs middleweight bout in the main event of UFC Vegas 41, but Costa showed up to fight week heavy. Because he was unable to make the 185lbs limit, the UFC then talked about booking the fight at a catchweight of 195lbs, instead. But Costa could not make that weight, either, and the UFC was finally forced to move the fight all the way up to 205lbs in the light heavyweight division. Because Costa was so heavy, he was forced to give Vettori 30% of his purse.
Marvin Vettori reacts following main event win over Paulo Costa at UFC Vegas 41
Adam Martin - October 24, 2021
UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori reacted following his main event win over Paulo Costa at Saturday’s UFC Vegas 41 event. Vettori was supposed to fight Costa in a middleweight fight that headlined UFC Vegas 41, but the fight was shifted to light heavyweight after Costa showed up heavy to fight week. Despite the weight class switch, the fight turned out to be an absolute battle as both Vettori and Costa stood in the pocket and traded for nearly the full five rounds that the fight was scheduled as. It was overall a very impressive performance by Vettori as he moved up in weight and still defeated a bigger opponent for one of his biggest wins yet.
Marvin Vettori claims he took home 30% of Paulo Costa's fight purse, says he would have finished him if he "wasn't as big"
Christopher Taylor - October 23, 2021
Marvin Vettori claims he took home 30% of Paulo Costa’s fight purse at UFC Vegas 41, adding he would have finished ‘The Eraser’ if he “wasn’t as big”. The former middleweight title challengers, Costa (13-2 MMA) and Vettori (18-5-1 MMA), had initially agreed to compete at their natural fight weight of 185lbs for Saturday’s event. However, in the early days of fight week the Brazilian revealed he would not be able to make weight and thus the contest was moved up to light heavyweight.
Paulo Costa reacts following loss to Marvin Vettori, addresses UFC Vegas 41 weight debacle
Chris Taylor - October 23, 2021
Former UFC title challenger Paulo Costa has reacted after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Marvin Vettori in tonight’s UFC Vegas 41 main event. The former middleweight title challengers, Costa and Vettori, were originally supposed to collide at their natural fighting weight of 185lbs. However, earlier in the week ‘The Eraser’ revealed he would not be able to make weight for the contest and thus the bout was moved to light heavyweight.