UFC Vegas 41: Vettori vs. Costa confirmed as 195-pound catchweight fight

Paulo Costa prepares to take on Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title in the UFC 253 main event at the du Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. | Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

Marvin Vettori vs. Paulo Costa wil…


Paulo ‘Borrachinha’ Costa awaits the start of his title fight against Israel Adesanya.
Paulo Costa prepares to take on Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title in the UFC 253 main event at the du Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. | Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

Marvin Vettori vs. Paulo Costa will officially take place at a catchweight of 195-pounds.

Marvin Vettori had doubts that Paulo Costa would make weight ahead of their middleweight bout at UFC Vegas 41 this Saturday, and it appears ‘The Italian Dream’ was right.

‘Mystic Marv’, anyone (nah, just me).

UFC officials confirmed on Thursday that both men have agreed to fight at a catchweight of 195-pounds after ‘Borrachinha’, who hasn’t ever missed weight in the past, entered fight week well over the 186-pound limit.

The Brazilian knockout artist will be docked 20 percent of his fight purse, per MMA Fighting.

The bout was originally set to be contested at 185-pounds but 211-pound Costa admitted that it would be impossible for him to make weight. He originally wanted the fight to take place at 205-pounds.

“I think this fight will happen,” Costa said on Wednesday. “It just will not happen if he don’t want to fight me. Maybe we can do a catchweight 195 [pounds] maybe but I think make this fight [205 pounds] could be more exciting to the fans.

“More explosive fight cause I want to go bring the fight for him. Maybe he wants to bring the fight to me. I think with both guys heavy, this knockout can happen easily.”

UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori will take place this Saturday, Oct. 23 at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.