Tag: Paulo Costa

Paulo Costa details nasty bursitis infection in elbow amid UFC 294 exit, plans return ‘Sooner than later’

Paulo Costa bursitis infection in elbow nasty plans UFC return sooner than latterFormer middleweight title challenger has revealed plans to land a return to he Octagon “sooner than later” amid his…

Paulo Costa bursitis infection in elbow nasty plans UFC return sooner than latter

Former middleweight title challenger has revealed plans to land a return to he Octagon “sooner than later” amid his withdrawal from a scheduled UFC 294 fight with Khamzat Chimaev this weekend in Abu Dhabi, UAE, as he continues to deal with a grisly bursitis infection in his elbow.

Costa, the current number six ranked middleweight contender, was slated to make his return to the Octagon this weekend in the co-main event of UFC 294 in the Middle East – taking on the undefeated welterweight contender, Chimaev in the latter’s return to the middleweight limit since a promotional bow.

Sidelined since August of last year, the Brazilian most recently landed a unanimous decision win over former undisputed middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold in Salt Lake City, Utah – snapping a two-fight losing run in the process.

Forced out of his UFC 294 fight with Chimaev, Costa revealed he underwent a surgical procedure just three weeks out from the bout in order to address a bursitis infection in his elbow, however, was ultimately pulled from the card.

In his place comes former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, who takes on the undefeated, Chimaev on just 10 days’ notice – in an official middleweight title fight eliminator.

Paulo Costa plans quickfire return to the UFC amid elbow injury

Revealing two subsequent surgical procedures to address a nasty infection in his elbow following his withdrawal, Costa announced plans for a return to active competition sooner rather than later.

“Official speech about the medical impediment and remove (sic) from the fight on October 21st in Abudhabi (sic),” Paulo Costa posted on his official X account. “I will be back sooner than later. Thanks.” 

Who would you like to see Paulo Costa fight in his UFC comeback?

Paulo Costa details anxiety issues caused by late-Night USADA visits: ‘I hate the way they chase me’

Paulo CostaYou can add Paulo Costa’s name to the list of UFC fighters speaking out against USADA after the anti-doping agency revealed that they would no longer be working with the promotion come 2024. On Wednesday USADA CEO Travis Tygart announced in a statement that the UFC would not renew its contract with the organization, citing […]

Paulo Costa

You can add Paulo Costa’s name to the list of UFC fighters speaking out against USADA after the anti-doping agency revealed that they would no longer be working with the promotion come 2024.

On Wednesday USADA CEO Travis Tygart announced in a statement that the UFC would not renew its contract with the organization, citing that their relationship had become “untenable” over Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return to the testing pool. Since then, UFC officials including Dana White, Hunter Campbell, and Jeff Novitzky have spoken out against Tygart and USADA.

UFC fighters have also gotten into the act with many of them celebrating the UFC’s split from USADA. Most notably, Jon Jones, who has had his fair share of issues with the anti-doping agency, shared his take on the situation. Now, Paulo Costa is adding his two cents, speaking of the anxiety USADA would regularly cause him with untimely visits during the most crucial parts of his fight prep.

“I hate the way Usada chase me,” Costa wrote on X. “Sometimes in hard training camp I often had anxiety before going to sleep because I was woken up at 4 am to urinate and have my blood drawn. I could only sleep after breaking my diet and slept 3 hours later, losing quality of sleep and morning training.”

Chase Hooper Echoed Paulo Costa’s Frustration Over Untimely USADA Visits

UFC lightweight standout Chase Hooper echoed similar sentiments on social media.

“Damn… they better give me my f*cking t-shirt,” Hooper posted. “You’re supposed to get one after you pass 25 tests, and I just did my 23rd one in August. Why else am I peeing in cups for these that dudes show up unannounced at 6 in the morning if I’m not at least getting a t-shirt out of it???”

24 hours after Travis Tygart broke the news of the pairing’s imminent split, the UFC revealed that as of January 1, 2024, they would partner with Drug Free Sport International, the agency that currently handles testing duties for the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NCAA. No other details have been announced as of yet, but UFC officials did confirm that any sanctions handed down by USADA will be honored beyond their contract end date of December 31, 2023.

Now, about Chase Hooper’s t-shirt…

With USADA on the outs, Paulo Costa’s secret juice is no longer a secret: ‘It will only be juice’

Paulo CostaWith the UFC parting ways with the United States Anti-Doping Agency at the end of 2023, many fighters are celebrating. That includes middleweight contender Paulo Costa whose ‘secret juice’ no longer needs to be a secret. Costa has been dominating the headlines as of late after he was pulled from his highly anticipated clash with […]

Paulo Costa

With the UFC parting ways with the United States Anti-Doping Agency at the end of 2023, many fighters are celebrating. That includes middleweight contender Paulo Costa whose ‘secret juice’ no longer needs to be a secret.

Costa has been dominating the headlines as of late after he was pulled from his highly anticipated clash with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 on October 21. ‘The Eraser’ revealed that he had undergone surgery after contracting bursitis in his elbow. Unfortunately, the infection did not heal fast enough, forcing the UFC to pull the plug on his long-awaited return.

Instead, former welterweight world champion Kamaru Usman will step up to fight Khamzat Chimaev in Abu Dhabi in what will now be a middleweight title eliminator.

Lost in the shuffle of the UFC 294 shakeup was the reveal that the promotion would be cutting its ties with USADA as of January 1, 2024. The news generated a plethora of varying responses from fighters, including Paulo Costa who suggested that the ‘secret’ in his ‘secret juice’ will no longer be a secret.

“After Usada it will be only Juice. No more secrets,” Costa quipped on X.

The Strange Tale of Paulo Costa

All jokes aside, Paulo Costa’s last three years inside the Octagon have been quite the frustrating tale. After coming up short in his lone title opportunity against Israel Adesanya in September 2020, Costa claimed that he was hungover during the fight after drinking a bottle of wine the night before.

He then withdrew from a fight with Robert Whittaker over a contract dispute, and claims to have never agreed to a fight with Jared Cannonier despite the UFC promoting it.

Ahead of his fight with Marvin Vettori, Costa essentially refused to make weight for the middleweight bout and forced the UFC to move it to a 195-pound catchweight and then ultimately to light heavyweight. Then you’ve got his bizarre battle with Luke Rockhold last year, the Ikram Aliskerov drama, and his undergoing surgery weeks before his UFC 294 scrap without informing the UFC.

It’s hard to make sense of anything that has gone on with ‘The Eraser’ in recent years, or why the UFC even bothered to renegotiate his contract, but it’s safe to say that fans are becoming increasingly frustrated by the perceived lack of professionalism that Costa has displayed in recent years.

Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev Fight Set for UFC 294 After Paulo Costa’s Surgery

UFC 294 has seen another change at the top of the card, as Khamzat Chimaev will have a new opponent in the co-main event after Paulo Costa wasn’t cleared…

UFC 294 has seen another change at the top of the card, as Khamzat Chimaev will have a new opponent in the co-main event after Paulo Costa wasn’t cleared…

Breaking – Paulo Costa out, Khamzat Chimaev now fights Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in short notice clash

Khamzat Chimaev now set to fight Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 with Paulo Costa out injuryWith the confirmation of one-time middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa’s withdrawal from his UFC 294 co-headliner with Khamzat Chimaev next weekend, the latter will still remain on the card in a co-main event capacity – now taking on former undisputed welterweight champion and former pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman on just 10 day’s notice.  Appearing […]

Khamzat Chimaev now set to fight Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 with Paulo Costa out injury

With the confirmation of one-time middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa’s withdrawal from his UFC 294 co-headliner with Khamzat Chimaev next weekend, the latter will still remain on the card in a co-main event capacity – now taking on former undisputed welterweight champion and former pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman on just 10 day’s notice. 

Appearing live on his official Instagram account, UFC CEO, Dana White confirmed the new slated pairing between the surging, Chimaev, and former undisputed welterweight titleholder, Kamaru Usman – with the pair set to compete in a co-main event clash in a middleweight clash.

Dana White confirms Kamaru Usman’s short notice fight with Khamzat Chimaev

“ARE YOU SH*TTIN’ ME?!” Dana White posted on his official X account tonight.” 

Sidelined from the Octagon since he headlined UFC 286 back in March in London, former undisputed welterweight champion, Usman most recently suffered back-to-back title fight losses to the incumbent welterweight titleholder, Leon Edwards in a rematch and subsequent rubber match.

Initially searching for and offering himself as a fight opponent for the undefeated Chimaev, Usman suggested a catchweight clash between the duo, ultimately to no avail. However, with the withdrawal of Costa due a recent surgical procedure to address a bursitis infection in his elbow, the Auchi native will get his wish in the form of a middleweight bout with the Chechen.

Boasting an impressive 12-0 professional record, Chimaev, the current number four ranked welterweight contender, has been sidelined since he co-headlined UFC 279 back in September of last year, submitting Kevin Holland with a first round D’Arce choke submission win.

Next weekend’s UFC 294 headliner also witnessed a massive reshuffle overnight to boot, with undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev seeing a planned rematch with ex-titleholder, Charles Oliveira fall to the wayside.

Dealing with a nasty laceration above his eyebrow, Oliveira has now been replaced by undisputed featherweight gold holder and pound-for-pound kingpin, Alexander Volkanovski who faces Makhachev in a title rematch next weekend in Abu Dhabi, UAE. 

Who wins at UFC 294: Khamzat Chimaev or Kamaru Usman?

Paulo Costa insists he’s ‘Not pulling out’ of UFC 294 fight with Khamzat Chimaev despite recent reports

Paulo CostaDespite multiple reports that he is out of UFC 294, Paulo Costa is refusing to pull out of his co-main event clash with Khamzat Chimaev. Over the last 24 hours, the promotion’s next big pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi on October 21 has seen some major changes. First, Charles Oliveira was forced to withdraw from […]

Paulo Costa

Despite multiple reports that he is out of UFC 294, Paulo Costa is refusing to pull out of his co-main event clash with Khamzat Chimaev.

Over the last 24 hours, the promotion’s next big pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi on October 21 has seen some major changes. First, Charles Oliveira was forced to withdraw from his headlining rematch with Islam Makhachev after suffering a nasty cut above his right eye during a sparring session.

Fortunately, the UFC was able to quickly secure a replacement opponent in reigning featherweight world champion Alexander Volkanovski.

However, shortly after Oliveira’s withdrawal, it was revealed that the highly anticipated bout between Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev was in danger. Earlier this week, ‘The Eraser’ revealed that he had undergone surgery three weeks ago to clear up a nasty case of bursitis in his elbow. Despite this, Costa remained insistent that he would be ready to go for UFC 294. That no longer appears to be the case.

But as rumors begin to swirl that Costa is out, the one-time UFC title challenger remains insistent that he will not be pulling out of the fight.

“Im not pulling out this fight anyway, let me fight the f*ck gourmet Chen Chen,” Costa wrote on X. “IAM here in ABUDHABI ALready n prepared mtfks!”

Paulo Costa Rumored to Be Replaced by Some Big Names

Of course, that doesn’t mean Costa is still going to step inside the Octagon come October 21. Though he’s clearly game, the UFC and/or the local athletic commission probably won’t be too keen on him competing less than a month after undergoing surgery.

As of this writing, there is no official word on who could potentially replace Costa, but recent reports suggest that Marvin Vettori was offered the spot and turned it out. Other rumors suggest that Jared Cannonier, Roman Dolidze, or even former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman could step in and save to co-main event.

If ‘The Eraser’ is in fact out of UFC 294, who would you like to see step up and square off with ‘Borz’ in the co-main event?