Tag: Ikram Aliskerov

Paulo Costa looks absolutely shredded ahead of UFC 291 return against Ikram Aliskerov

Paulo CostaPaulo Costa is looking fit as a fiddle weeks before his highly anticipated return to the Octagon this month. Costa, a one-time middleweight title challenger, will make his first appearance of 2023 as the promotion heads back to Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City for UFC 291. In the main event of the evening, fans […]

Paulo Costa

Paulo Costa is looking fit as a fiddle weeks before his highly anticipated return to the Octagon this month.

Costa, a one-time middleweight title challenger, will make his first appearance of 2023 as the promotion heads back to Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City for UFC 291. In the main event of the evening, fans will be treated to a rematch five years in the making as top-ranked lightweight contenders Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier run back their 2018 classic.

Fans will also get their first glimpse of former middleweight champion Alex Pereira at 205 as ‘Poatan’ is set to square off with former light heavyweight world champion Jan Blachowicz.

The main card’s featured bout will see Paulo Costa return to take on Russian standout Ikram Aliskerov. Ahead of their main card clash later this month, Costa offered up a look at his training whilst showing off his shredded physique in a video clip shared on social media.

Paulo Costa rides into the contest with a solid 14-2 record, his only losses coming against reigning UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and fellow top contender Marvin Vettori. His last appearance came in August 2022 when he squared off with the returning Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. The bout was both entertaining and odd, but Costa ultimately escaped with a unanimous decision victory.

Since then, Paulo Costa has been going back and forth with the promotion in hopes of securing a bigger bag for himself. According to the man himself, he did exactly that, signing a new contract worth upwards of $1 million per fight.

At UFC 291, we’ll find out if the No. 7 ranked middleweight is worth the investment when he faces the unranked Ikram Aliskerov. With a record of 14-1, Aliskerov will be looking to land a spot in the 185-pound division’s top ten after dispatching Phil Hawes in his promotional debut at UFC 288 in May.

Paulo Costa promised to return to form in UFC 291 comeback fight: ‘We finally got him dialled in’

Paulo Costa touted to return to form at UFC 291 we finally got him dialled inSlated to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 291 at the end of July, former middleweight championship challenger, is now “dialed in” to the sport again – according to promotional president, Dana White, ahead of a fight with Ikram Aliskerov.  Costa, the current #5 ranked middleweight contender, is set to feature on the […]

Paulo Costa touted to return to form at UFC 291 we finally got him dialled in

Slated to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 291 at the end of July, former middleweight championship challenger, is now “dialed in” to the sport again – according to promotional president, Dana White, ahead of a fight with Ikram Aliskerov. 

Costa, the current #5 ranked middleweight contender, is set to feature on the main card of UFC 291 on July 29. at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah – taking on Dana White’s Contender Series alum, Aliskerov in a rather surprising matchup for the Belo Horizonte native.

Recently agreeing terms on a reportedly lucrative, new multi-fight deal with the organization, Brazilian contender, Paulo Costa most recently featured on the main card of UFC 278 in August of last year – snapping a run of two consecutive losses in a unanimous decision victory against former undisputed division champion, Luke Rockhold.

Paulo Costa has laughed off confirmation of his fight with Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 291

Despite scoffing and laughing at White’s confirmation of his return against Aliskerov at UFC 291 in July, Costa has been referred to as “dialled in” now amid the re-upping of his new deal by White, nevertheless. 

“I think that every fighter we deal with is different in certain ways,” Dana White told Ag Fight during a recent interview. “Some are easy, some are tougher, but that’s our job. That’s what we do. Our job is to get deals done, and we finally got him (Paulo Costa) dialled in, and it will be fun to see him fight in Utah.”

“His last fight with (Luke Rockhold) was awesome, it was an incredible war,” Dana White explained. “It’s one of those fights that if you were there live that night or watching on TV, it’s a fight you’ll never forget. So, he’s fun to watch. It’ll be good to have him back.” 

During his Octagon tenure, Paulo Costa has landed victories over the likes of the above-mentioned, Rockhold, as well as former welterweight champion, Johny Hendricks, Uriah Hall, and former middleweight title challenger, Yoel Romero. 

Paulo Costa laughs off Dana White’s confirmation of his UFC 291 fight with Ikram Aliskerov in July

Paulo Costa laughs at Dana White confirm of UFC 291 fight with Ikram AliskerovOne-time UFC middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa has laughed off confirmation from promotional president, Dana White that he will be fighting at UFC 291 in July – taking on Contender Series alum, Ikram Aliskerov in a pay-per-view main card clash. Costa, the current #5 ranked middleweight contender under the banner of the organization, has yet […]

Paulo Costa laughs at Dana White confirm of UFC 291 fight with Ikram Aliskerov

One-time UFC middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa has laughed off confirmation from promotional president, Dana White that he will be fighting at UFC 291 in July – taking on Contender Series alum, Ikram Aliskerov in a pay-per-view main card clash.

Costa, the current #5 ranked middleweight contender under the banner of the organization, has yet to feature inside the Octagon since he landed on the main card of UFC 278 back in August of last year against former undisputed middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold, scoring a unanimous decision victory to return to the winner’s enclosure.

Boasting a 14-2 professional record, Belo Horizonte native, Costa has suffered defeats to just champion, Israel Adesanya courtesy of a second round knockout, as well as a close decision defeat to Marvin Vettori after forcing an impromptu light heavyweight showdown. 

Confirming how he has reached terms with the UFC on a new, reportedly lucrative multi-fight deal, Costa, who had been linked with an October return in Abu Dhabi, UAE against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294.

However, confirming the promotion’s return to Salt Lake City, Utah for UFC 291 on July 29. – the above-mentioned, White laid out multiple main card fights, including a middleweight pairing of Costa and former Brave CF staple, Aliskerov.

Addressing Costa’s future with the promotion during an interview with AgFight, White confirmed that Costa would be fighting Aliskerov in July at UFC 291 as well as confirming how the Brazilian had agreed terms on a new contract, leading to a response from Paulo Costa himself. 

Paulo Costa fought for undisputed middleweight gold back in 2020

Competing for the middleweight title during his Octagon tenure, Costa has landed UFC victories over the likes of former welterweight champion, Johny Hendricks, Uriah Hall, former middleweight championship challenger, Yoel Romero, and last August, ex-champion, Rockhold.