Paulo Costa News
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.
Luke Rockhold blasts "annoying, stupid" Paulo Costa for hangover excuse: "Shut up and stop making excuses"
Cole Shelton - March 2, 2021
Luke Rockhold is not a fan of Paulo Costa. After Costa suffered his first career loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 253 for the middleweight title he immediately said something happened. However, just recently, he explained that “something” was the fact he was dealing with a hangover. He said he drank a bottle of wine the night before the fight in order to fall asleep.
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.
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 turns down opportunity to headline UFC on ABC 2 card vs. Robert Whittaker
Harry Kettle - February 15, 2021
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa has turned down the chance to main event the UFC’s next big ABC card on April 10, Fight News Australia reports. The fight night main event has been slated to take place on April 17 for a few weeks now, but the Ultimate Fighting Championship wanted to push it forward seven days and have it headline the promotion’s return to ABC.
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.
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.
Report | Paulo Costa vs. Robert Whittaker targeted for March, interim title possible says Wallid Ismail
Adam Martin - December 10, 2020
MMA manager Wallid Ismail says the UFC is targeting an important middleweight matchup between Paulo Costa and Robert Whittaker for March. Ismail told Portal Do Vale Tudo that the UFC has already offered the fight to Costa and Whittaker for March. The manager said that Costa has agreed to the fight and now they are just waiting on Whittaker to sign off on his end of the deal. Ismail also said there is the possibility that the fight could be for the interim middleweight belt.
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.
Paulo Costa reveals he fought Israel Adesanya with a "totally impaired" leg and should've postponed the fight
Cole Shelton - November 4, 2020
Paulo Costa has finally revealed what happened before his UFC 253 fight against Israel Adesanya. Leading into the event, it was a highly-anticipated bout and one many were torn on who would win. Yet, Adesanya made it look easy as he TKO’d Costa in the second round and immediately the Brazilian called for a rematch as he claimed something happened before the fight.
Paulo Costa confirms fight with Robert Whittaker "very close" to being booked
Adam Martin - November 4, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa confirmed that a fight against former champion Robert Whittaker is “very close” to being booked. Costa recently called out Whittaker for what he said would be an “amazing fight” for the fans. Whittaker in turn said that he wasn’t interested in Costa at the moment, but it looks like the UFC has different plans. Speaking on his YouTube channel in a recent live chat with his fans, Costa confirmed that he’s deep into discussions with the UFC about the Whittaker fight, adding that a few details need to still be ironed out.
Robert Whittaker reacts to callout from Paulo Costa: “He just lost his contention to the title”
Harry Kettle - November 4, 2020
UFC middleweight Robert Whittaker has issued his response after a recent callout by divisional rival Paulo Costa. Whittaker seems to be the next man in line for a shot at Israel Adesanya’s Middleweight Championship after his two decision wins over fellow contenders Darren Till and Jared Cannonier. Costa, on the other hand, was decisively beaten by Adesanya in a one-sided title fight back at UFC 253.
Paulo Costa calls out Robert Whittaker: "We can do amazing fight"
Adam Martin - October 25, 2020
UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa called out Robert Whittaker following his unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier at UFC 254. Costa is coming off of a TKO loss to UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in a failed bid to capture the belt at UFC 253. With Whittaker coming off the win over Cannonier, who was arguably next in line to fight Adesanya next, UFC president Dana White said that Whittaker vs. Adesanya is interesting. But Costa is now throwing a wrench in those potential plans by calling out for the Whittaker fight himself.
Israel Adesanya continues to torment Paulo Costa following win at UFC 253
Christopher Taylor - October 14, 2020
Undefeated UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (20-0 MMA) continues to torment Paulo Costa following their clash at UFC 253. ‘Stylebender’ and ‘The Eraser’ collided in the headliner of last month’s UFC 253 pay-per-view event on Fight Island. While many were expecting the contest to result in a “fight of the year” performance, that did not prove to be the case.
Anthony Johnson slams Paulo Costa over recent comments regarding his return to UFC
Christopher Taylor - October 14, 2020
Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Anthony Johnson has issued a scathing response to recent middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa. Costa (13-1 MMA) put his undefeated mixed martial arts record on the line while hoping to dethrone middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (20-0 MMA) at last months UFC 253 pay-per-view event on Fight Island.