Paulo Costa revealed the UFC has offered him a new fight.
It’s no secret the #13-ranked UFC Middleweight contender and one-time title challenger wanted a piece of the new champion Khamzat Chimaev after his dominant title win over Dricus du Plessis in the main event of UFC 319 last month.
Paulo Costa was supposed to meet Chimaev years ago at UFC 294, but withdrew from the 2023 bout due to an elbow infection days out.
Recently on a losing skid, ‘The Eraser’ wiped that all away with a clean decision win over Roman Kopylov in the co-main event of UFC 318 in July and called out Chimaev in his post-fight interview.
Costa would’ve settled for former champ Dricus du Plessis, but it looks like the Brazilian contender will be fighting another Russian, this time on the other side of the world.
Paulo Costa says he’s agreed to UFC Qatar fight with Shara ‘Bullet’
On Wednesday, Costa might as well have broken his own fight news, claiming he’s agreed to fight striking specialist Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov at UFC Qatar.
The UFC Fight Night event is set to take place on Nov. 22 at the ABHA Arena, Doha Qatar. No fights have been officially announced for the card, as of this writing.
“Was offered Shara bullet in [Qatar],” Costa wrote on X.
“[It] looks fun, I said yes,” Costa revealed.
After beating Russia’s Kopylov, Costa says Magomedov and Chimaev are next. Costa posted a video of how he’d fight Chimaev, insulting his heavy grappling style that’s been so dominant in the UFC.
“It’s gonna be the second Russian in a row to been beaten,” Costa added.
“The 3 you guys who’s next the cupcake boring balls sniffer,” Costa said of Chimaev.
“Keep your eye(s) open guys,” Costa said, as Magomedov is blind in one eye.
Paulo Costa has one of the best takedown defense rates at middleweight
Costa’s no grappler like Chimaev, but the 34-year-old has power for days.
Costa had a 100% finishing rate in his first 12 fights and the first decision he won was actually against Yoel Romero after a three-round war in 2019.
Costa defended three out of four takedown attempts from Romero, an Olympic Silver Medalist in freestyle wrestling (2000 Sydney).
Costa hasn’t been taken down more than twice in any of his UFC bouts. His takedown defense rate stands at 80%, which is pretty high for the middleweight division.
It’s worth noting Costa hasn’t fought a ton of wrestlers in his heyday. Johny Hendricks is a notable one, but the former welterweight champion wasn’t what he used to be when he fought Costa up a weight class at UFC 217 in 2017, going 0 for 4 on takedown attempts and losing via TKO.