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Sean Strickland vows to make ‘dirty Brazilian’ Paulo Costa bleed in anticipated UFC 302 fight

Sean Strickland is going to make Paulo Costa bleed. On Saturday, June 1, Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to the…

Sean Strickland is going to make Paulo Costa bleed.

On Saturday, June 1, Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey for a stacked night of fights headlined by a lightweight title clash between reigning champion Islam Makhachev and No. 4 ranked contender Dustin Poirier.

Also scheduled to go down that night is a high-stakes middleweight showdown between former titleholder Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa.

Initially, Costa claimed that Strickland had turned down the proposed fight which prompted ‘Tarzan’ to clarify that he didn’t turn down the fight — he turned down the UFC’s lowball offer to fight on seven weeks’ notice. That has since been resolved, resulting in the bout being officially announced by Dana White during the UFC 300 post-fight press conference.

Gearing up for their summertime scrap, Strickland sent his opponent a message on Instagram in an unsurprisingly Strickland-esque way.

“You know, you guys, I like Costa. He’s a funny guy. He makes me laugh. He’s pro-free speech. I like that guy,” Strickland said in a video. “But I’m going to make that dirty Brazilian bleed. I’m going to do it for Brazil because Brazil doesn’t even like Costa. So, hey, Brazil, this is for you guys. Let’s get it done.”

Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa Looking to get back in the win column

UFC 302 will be Sean Strickland’s first fight since surrendering the 185-pound crown to current champ Dricus Du Plessis.

‘Tarzan’ lobbied hard for an immediate rematch with ‘Stillknocks,’ but with the promotion intent on booking DDP’s first title defense against two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya, Strickland will have to fight down in the rankings before bagging another shot at UFC gold.

Competing for the first time in a year and a half, Costa returned at UFC 288 for a fight with Robert Whittaker. ‘The Eraser’ came up short, suffering a unanimous decision defeat at the hands of ‘The Reaper.’

Sean Strickland settles fighter pay fiasco with UFC execs, agrees to meet Paulo Costa in June showdown

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland will be returning to the Octagon this summer. Strickland is coming off a…

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland will be returning to the Octagon this summer.

Strickland is coming off a split-decision loss to Dricus Du Plessis in January to lose his middleweight title. Since then, he has been campaigning for an immediate rematch, but all signs point to Israel Adesanya getting the next title shot.

With that, Strickland took to social media to blast fighter pay as he was disappointed with what the UFC was offering him. But, just a day after his rant, Sean Strickland took to X to reveal that he had a successful meeting with the UFC and he has agreed to face Paulo Costa.

Well had a meeting with the UFC and told them that I don't want to be rich. I want to be able to support a family after my career is done

They actually were pretty supportive, made it happen. Thank you fans!

Alright @BorrachinhaMMA you got your wish… Let's do some bleeding.

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) April 10, 2024

“Well had a meeting with the UFC and told them that I don’t want to be rich. I want to be able to support a family after my career is done They actually were pretty supportive, made it happen. Thank you fans! Alright @BorrachinhaMMA you got your wish… Let’s do some bleeding,” Strickland wrote.

Paulo Costa successfully makes weight for UFC 298 fight with Robert Whittaker — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

According to MMAFighting, Strickland vs. Costa is now targeted to take place at UFC 302 on June 1 in Newark, New Jersey. The main event of the card has not been revealed, but the event will feature a pivotal middleweight bout.

Paulo Costa responds to Sean Strickland

After Sean Strickland revealed he had a productive with the UFC and agreed to fight Paulo Costa, the Brazilian took to social media to react to the news, as he seems interested in the bout.

Strickland vs. Costa should be a very fan-friendly fight and one many fans will be looking forward to. But, until the contract is signed the fight is not official.

Sean Strickland rips Canadian MMA reporter in vicious tirade ahead of UFC 297 you're the enemy

Strickland is currently ranked as the No. 1 contender at middleweight while Costa is ranked seventh following his loss to Robert Whittaker in February. The winner of this fight could very well get a title shot next time out, which adds to the intrigue of the scrap.

Sean Strickland turned down lowball offer to fight Paulo Costa at UFC 302: ‘It’s cut throat in here’

Sean Strickland may be a former UFC champion, but he certainly isn’t being paid like one. Middleweight contender Paulo…

Sean Strickland may be a former UFC champion, but he certainly isn’t being paid like one.

Middleweight contender Paulo Costa recently accused Strickland of turning down a fight with him at UFC 302 when the promotion returns to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on June 1.

“Two days ago, UFC come back and say, ‘Paulo, you fight Strickland on June 1,’” Costa said during an appearance on The Coach And The Casual. “It’s a great fight. It’s a fun fight, ]more] than Cannonier, I think.

“Unfortunately, I don’t know what happened,” Costa continued. “Strickland say, ‘No, he don’t want to fight me.’ Strickland, he refused to fight me, unfortunately. That’s what UFC told me. I just have this information from UFC. I think this fight would be great, I would love to fight him.”

“I never say no … I say ‘How much’ lol,” Strickland wrote on an Instagram, responding to Costa’s claim.

Sean Strickland Reveals the UFC’s Offer

Jumping social media platforms, ‘Tarzan’ took to X where he confirmed that he and the promotion were far apart when it comes to how much coin he would collect for a fight in The Garden State.

“Just fighting the UFC about pay lol it will get sorted soon or it’s gonna get weird man!” he wrote when asked for a fight announcement.

“Out of curiosity … what do you guys think I was offered to fight Costa on 7 weeks notice?” he asked his fans. “Base contract…..”

One person guessed $200,000 to show and $200,000 to win. Strickland replied, “Close, but less lol.”

“My man it’s cut throat in here,” he said to another fan who guessed $1 million. “99 percent of UFC fighters will never see a million their entire career.”

As a UFC champion, Sean Strickland may have very well cleared seven figures for his title fight with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January. Now that he’s no longer champion, ‘Tarzan’ will only see the standard base pay + win bonus. Given his status as a top contender and likely one big win away from another shot at the belt, it’s understandable that Strickland would want to be more cautious about when he fights.

Paulo Costa claims Sean Strickland turned down grudge match at UFC 302 in New Jersey: ‘It’s a fun fight’

Off the back of his decision defeat to former champion, Robert Whittaker in the co-main event of UFC 298…

Off the back of his decision defeat to former champion, Robert Whittaker in the co-main event of UFC 298 back in February, former title challenger, Paulo Costa has claimed the promotion informed him that a planned UFC 302 fight with another ex-champion, Sean Strickland would not be materializing for the June event, despite best efforts.

Costa, the current number seven ranked middleweight contender, most recently co-headlined UFC 298 back in February in a long-anticipated fight against the above-mentioned, Whittaker, suffering a decision loss to the Melbourne-born favorite over the course of three rounds.

Paulo Costa claims he's not signed contract to fight Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 I don't know what happened — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

As for Strickland, the outspoken former champion has yet to return since he headlined UFC 297 in January in Canada, dropping his middleweight crown in a close, split decision defeat to Dricus du Plessis, and appears to be rather disillusioned with his future in the sport amid his loss.

Paulo Costa reveals Sean Strickland bout was targeted for UFC 302

Providing a significant update on his fighting future, Belo Horizonte native, Costa claimed the promotion had suggested a bout with former title challenger, Jared Cannonier, before then revealing Strickland had turned down the chance to fight him at UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey – much to the Brazilian’s disappointment.

“UFC suggested I fight (Jared) Cannonier,” Paulo Costa told The Coach And The Casual during a recent interview. “It’s a nice fight, I love the idea to fight [against] Cannonier. And [they] suggested that fight [take place] for June.”

But then, two days ago, UFC came back and said, ‘Paulo, you fight (Sean) Strickland on June 1?’” Paulo Costa explained. “It’s a great fight – it’s a fun fight, you know, even more fun that Cannonier, I think. Unfortunately, I don’t know what happened, Strickland said no. Strickland, he refused to fight me, unfortunately. But that’s what the UFC told me, you know. I just have this this information from the UFC. I think that fight, it would be great. You know, I would love to fight him.

Who wins in a potential fight: Sean Strickland or Paulo Costa?

Robert Whittaker laughs off near-KO loss to Paulo Costa in UFC 298 fight: ‘That spinning kick should’ve killed me’

Former UFC middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker explains his mindset heading into his recent fight with Paulo Costa. Following his…

Former UFC middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker explains his mindset heading into his recent fight with Paulo Costa.

Following his knockout loss against Dricus Du Plessis last July, there was questions on whether Whittaker was still the same fighter, if the years of campaigning at the top level had caught up to him. However, Whittaker would bounce back with a decision win over the bruising Paulo Costa at UFC 298 and would battle through adversity to do so.

Towards the end of the first round Costa would land a spinning wheel kick which would rock Robert Whittaker, leaving him limp legged staggering backwards to the cage.

Whittaker would recover well, pulling away and winning the last two rounds. Reacting to the victory, ‘The Reaper’ would make light of the tough moment and poke fun at his doubters.

“I’ve never been spinning wheel kicked in my life,” Whittaker explained on his MMArcade podcast. “His kicks were so fast in that first round.

“Everyone in comments, any comment anywhere, especially after the Dricus fight: Whittaker’s chin’s gone, he’s a wash,” he continued. “Mate, my chin’s back. I don’t know where it went on vacation, but it’s back, dude (laughs). He’s come back and he’s clocked in. That kick should have killed me.” (H/T MMA Mania)

What’s next for Robert Whittaker?

With the win, Whittaker puts himself firmly back into the title picture and could be one solid win away from another crack at the belt. Having already fought the rest of the top five, the logical next fight would be against Sean Strickland, who is also coming off a loss to Dricus Du Plessis.

Whittaker proved he still has something left in the tank, and with the ever-changing middleweight division, who knows what could happen.

Do you think Robert Whittaker will become UFC champion again?