Sean Strickland calls out ‘Dirty Brazilian’ Paulo Costa for refusing to fight: ‘What the f*ck happened?’

Sean StricklandSean Strickland (26-5 MMA) has given his side on how his next matchup against Abus Magomedov (25-4-1 MMA) came together. Strickland’s bout against Magomedov is now set for July 1st and will be his second appearance in the Octagon in 2023.  The 32-year-old’s latest outing was a win against another unranked UFC prospect, Nassourdine Imavov (12-4 MMA) in […]

Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland (26-5 MMA) has given his side on how his next matchup against Abus Magomedov (25-4-1 MMA) came together.

Strickland’s bout against Magomedov is now set for July 1st and will be his second appearance in the Octagon in 2023. 

The 32-year-old’s latest outing was a win against another unranked UFC prospect, Nassourdine Imavov (12-4 MMA) in what was the first main event of 2023.

‘Tarzan’s’ convincing unanimous decision victory over Imavov was a much-needed confidence boost following his controversial loss to Jared Cannonier in 2022

Although Sean Strickland was unable to get the finish, his performance was impressive enough as he displayed the difference in competition between the top 15 and the rest of the UFC middleweights.

Sean Strickland wanted a middleweight showdown against Paulo Costa

Despite Strickland’s eagerness to stay active in the UFC, the California native expressed it hasn’t been easy finding his next dance partner. 

In a recent interview with ‘Helen Yee Sports’, Sean Strickland explained that the UFC was going to put him on ice for a few months if he didn’t take the fight against Magomedov. However, he claims that the UFC tried to find him an opponent within the top 10 but they turned the fight down. 

“The UFC came to me and they said ‘Sean, there’s- we asked a couple of top 10 guys, they said no,’ the UFC asked them, they said no, so they said ‘We’re going to be benching you for six to eight months until somebody opens up or you fight this guy [Magomedov],’” Strickland exclaimed.

“I said ‘UFC, that’s f***ed up but I like the fight, I like to make money,’ I like to make money so I said yes.”

Further on in the interview, Strickland suggested a fight against fan favorite, Paulo Costa (14-2 MMA) was the fight the UFC was looking to materialize. 

Nevertheless, Strickland disclosed that the matchup never manifested, adding that the failure to get the fight booked was due to negotiation issues between the UFC and Costa. 

“It should’ve been that dirty Brazilian Paulo Costa,” Strickland stated.

“Costa, me and you, we should’ve done the f***ing man dance, I don’t know what the f**k happened dude… Me and Costa dude, we should’ve been f***ing fighting, we should’ve been fighting dude, but you’re too busy playing games with the UFC being a f***ing woman, and now you take this f***ing great fight that could’ve happened and you f***ing ruined it. Costa, you ruined it.” 

For MMA fans this will seem like a missed opportunity. Considering the outrageously unpredictable personalities of both Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa, the build-up to a fight between the two would certainly be must-watch television.

Instead, both competitors will find themselves against some of the UFC’s newly touted 185lbs prospects, with Costa also penciled in to go toe to toe with Ikram Aliskerov (14-1 MMA) at UFC 291, on July 29th.

Do you think Sean Strickland vs. Paulo Costa will ever happen in the UFC?

UFC star Paul Costa made light of Gabi Garcia’s domestic abuse allegations with inappropriate joke

Gabi GarciaWomen’s mixed martial artist Gabi Garcia has publicly accused her husband of domestic abuse. Garcia, an undefeated fighter and accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, recently took to Instagram claiming that her husband, Bruno Almeida, had been physically abusive throughout their relationship. “The time has come. It’s time to be brave and tell everyone why I’ve been […]

Gabi Garcia

Women’s mixed martial artist Gabi Garcia has publicly accused her husband of domestic abuse.

Garcia, an undefeated fighter and accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, recently took to Instagram claiming that her husband, Bruno Almeida, had been physically abusive throughout their relationship.

“The time has come. It’s time to be brave and tell everyone why I’ve been away for the past two years,” Garcia said. “They were the worst years of my life, but I’ll show all the details at the end of this week. I didn’t think this could ever happen. That someone could be so bad. A criminal. A person who has commited crimes before and after he was with me. A person who has money and asked for pension, my purses, my earrings. Asking for my house. Using the name Garcia.”

“Married, with a son and using my last name. A person who says she is a child of God, who went to my wedding and wrote ‘God bless you’ is still his lover,” Garcia added. “Because that guy won’t divorce me. Even with a restraining order and the Maria da Penha law (A Brazilian law created to protect women who were victim of domestic violence) by my side, he didn’t stop. There are 19 cases of fraud on my credit card, closed my accounts in three different banks. I would get home to no water, no power. He took the money from my payments.

“I had to go to court to prove that I’m the owner of my own house. He lied to his lawyer by saying that it was rented. He asked for my Chanel earrings, my purse collection, pension. He had people intimidating me. Job? He doesnt’ have one. He lives on allowance from his mother. I’m posting everything. We have to believe in the law. My parents have depression, I can’t leave my house. I still have to put a finish to some wars, though. I’ll tell my fans every single detail so I can help women who have been abused,” Garcia concluded.

Paulo Costa Makes Light of Gabi Garcia’s Horrifying Situation

After pouring her heart out on social media, fans and fighters rallied around Gabi Garcia and showed their support for the Brazilian combat sports icon. Unfortunately, not everyone had something nice to say. Enter Paulo Costa, the UFC’s self-appointed comedian. Costa has developed a reputation over the last year for taking clever cracks at his co-workers. For the most part, they are genuinely humorous and relatively light-hearted, but ‘The Eraser’ appears to have stepped over the line this time.

In response to Gabi Garcia’s story, Costa tweeted out an image of the especially jacked Brazilian and asked, “Who the hell was her husband, Thanos?”

Gabi Garcia primarily competed under the RIZIN banner in Japan but she has been absent from the MMA scene since 2018 after going 6-0 to kick off her career. Garcia has remained active in submission grappling, most recently competing at the ADCC world championships last year.

Sadly, Gabi Garcia is the second female fighter to come out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of a man she once loved and trusted. Rising contender Mackenzie Dern also opened up about her experience with domestic violence following a decisive win over Angela Hill last month.

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. 

Khamzat Chimaev blasts Paulo Costa, expects him to lose at UFC 291: ‘I want to kill this guy’

Khamzat Chimaev hits out at Paulo Costa UFC 291 I want to kill this guyUndefeated welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has predicted a loss for one-time middleweight championship challenger, Paulo Costa at UFC 291 in July – as the Brazilian draws a soon-to-be common foe, Dana White’s Contender Series alum, Ikram Aliskerov.  Chimaev, the current #4 ranked welterweight contender, has been linked with a return to the Octagon at UFC […]

Khamzat Chimaev hits out at Paulo Costa UFC 291 I want to kill this guy

Undefeated welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has predicted a loss for one-time middleweight championship challenger, Paulo Costa at UFC 291 in July – as the Brazilian draws a soon-to-be common foe, Dana White’s Contender Series alum, Ikram Aliskerov. 

Chimaev, the current #4 ranked welterweight contender, has been linked with a return to the Octagon at UFC 294 in October on ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi, UAE – and particulary, rumored to be close to a fight against either former welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, or the above-mentioned, Costa.

As for the Belo Horizonte native, Costa recently agreed terms on a new contract with the UFC earlier this year, and is set to begin the first fight on that new multi-fight deal at UFC 291 at the Delta Center on July 29. – taking on incoming common-opposition, Aliskerov.

A product of Dana White’s Contender Series back in September of last year, Aliskerov improved to 14-1 with a first round KO win over Phil Hawes at UFC 288 back in May of this year in his Octagon bow.

Suffering just a single professional loss, Aliskerov’s sole professional defeat came in the form of a 2019 knockout loss to the previously noted, Chimaev when both competed under the Brave CF banner.

Khamzat Chimaev takes firm aim at UFC rival, Paulo Costa

Sharing his thoughts on the pairing this summer, Chimaev, who has taken umbrage with recent comments made about him by Costa – predicted a defeat for the Brazilian against Aliskerov at UFC 291.

“Paulo (Costa) has like, spoken a lot of sh*t about me,” Khamzat Chimaev said on his YouTube channel. “That guy, I want to smash him. I want to kill this guy. I was doing a lot of things and he wants to fight with the other guy [Ikram Aliskerov]. The guy, I fought him a long time before. Three or four years ago, before UFC. I win against the guy.”

“I think the guy (Aliskerov) will beat him (Costa) as well,” Khamzat Chimaev explained. “Paulo is not good. He’s sh*t, bro.  He just talks too much. He beat nobody. A close fight with (Yoel) Romero, only fighter he wins against. Other people, I don’t know. Nobody knows these guys. I don’t know who he beat.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC return receives massive update: ‘He’s training hard to smash Paulo Costa’

Khamzat Chimaev touted to fight Paulo Costa in his UFC return this year training to smashStill expected to make his Octagon return in October at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Khamzat Chimaev has been tipped to still fight with former middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa in his Octagon comeback, by friend and training partner, Darren Till. Chimaev, who boasts as undefeated 12-0 professional record, slipped from the #3 rank […]

Khamzat Chimaev touted to fight Paulo Costa in his UFC return this year training to smash

Still expected to make his Octagon return in October at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Khamzat Chimaev has been tipped to still fight with former middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa in his Octagon comeback, by friend and training partner, Darren Till.

Chimaev, who boasts as undefeated 12-0 professional record, slipped from the #3 rank in the official welterweight rankings earlier this month following a significant period of activity.

Limited to just two Octagon walks last year, the Chechen-born contender most recently co-headlined UFC 279 back in September last, submitting Kevin Holland in a dominant opening round D’Arce choke triumph. 

And recently engaging in a war of words with former undisputed welterweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman, Chimaev has been backed to fight at UFC 294 in October – in a middleweight division return. 

Khamzat Chimaev insists he has been trying to secure a UFC comeback

Denying claims from UFC president Dana White that “personal stuff” has limited his ability to compete under the organization’s banner, Chimaev has been touted as preparing for a fight with the above-mentioned, Costa by former UFC title challenger, Till.

“@KChimaev (Khamzat Chimaev) [is] training hard to smash @BorrachinhaMMA (Paulo Costa),” Darren Till tweeted.

Despite remaining confident a matchup between the two occurs, Costa has already been booked to make his Octagon return after voicing displeasure with a sidelining until October, with the Belo Horizonte native set to Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 291 on July 29. in Salt Lake City, Utah – in a truly surprising matchup. 

Prior to his first round submission win over Holland at a catchweight limit, AllStars MMA staple, Chimaev turned in a Fight of the Year candidate against former title challenger, Gilbert Burns in April of last year, landing a close, tightly-contested unanimous decision success in Jacksonville, Florida.  

EXCLUSIVE – Drew Dober claims Paulo Costa might have him beat as the UFC’s most photogenic fighter

Drew DoberDrew Dober is undoubtedly one of the most photogenic fighters in all of mixed martial arts, but the streaking lightweight believes one middleweight may have him beat in that category. Riding a three-fight win streak that includes knockouts over Terrance McKinney, Rafael Alves, and ‘King’ Bobby Green, Drew Dober will look to make it four […]

Drew Dober

Drew Dober is undoubtedly one of the most photogenic fighters in all of mixed martial arts, but the streaking lightweight believes one middleweight may have him beat in that category.

Riding a three-fight win streak that includes knockouts over Terrance McKinney, Rafael Alves, and ‘King’ Bobby Green, Drew Dober will look to make it four in a row when he meets division standout Matt Frevola. Before he heads to the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ for UFC 288, Dober spoke with Alex Behunin in a LowKick MMA exclusive interview to discuss a multitude of topics.

Of course, no Drew Dober interview can be complete without addressing his undeniable attractiveness. Dubbed by many as the most photogenic fighter in combat sports, Dober was asked about his thoughts on being dubbed as such. Humble as always, Dober suggested that one-time middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa may have him beat on the beauty scale.

“I’m not quite sure. I feel like I’m competing with Paulo Costa,” Dober said. “He’s good looking too, but man, you have no idea. My mother just bred me to be in front of a camera. Since I was three years old, ‘Do this, do that, do this.’ She wanted me in front of a camera since I was an infant so when I became a professional fighter, she was stoked. So all my being photogenic, interviews and all this stuff is thanks to my mom.

“It’s coached, it’s practiced. To explain how crazy my mother was, she applied me to every reality show she could. The Bachelor, Real World, Love Island. Anything she could get her hands on to put me in front of a camera. So I decided to get punched in the mouth. Here I am in front of a camera so she’s happy.”

Drew Dober Leaves the Door Open for a Potential Move to Welterweight

Cutting a significant amount of weight to make the lightweight limit of 155, Drew Dober has teased a potential move to welterweight in the past. Asked if that is still part of his plans, Dober revealed that he has seemingly mastered cutting to 155, but is not opposed to taking the occasional fight at welterweight if it makes sense.

“Surprising enough, I think we’ve got this weight-cut thing figured out,” Dober continued. “Before my fight with Bobby Green, I had probably one of the smoothest weight cuts of my life. I’ve never had back-to-back smooth weight cuts, but we’re hitting the same numbers this time around. So without jinxing myself, knock on wood, we might have back-to-back smooth cuts for 155 and so it gives me the options. We can compete at 155 indefinitely or we can move to 170 for potential bangers up there. I’ll probably have to put on a little size if I want to make a career move to welterweight, but I trained with [Kamaru] Usman and the dude outweighs me for sure.”

After working with coaches and nutritionists for years, Drew Dober finds that simply listening to his body is the best way to make sure that he has a healthy weight cut.

“Yeah, it’s a long process. I’ve worked with a nutritionist for 10-plus years. Different nutritionists, but they all kind of tell me these things that work and some things that don’t work. As of right now, I’m just listening to my body. I’m well aware of what I need to eat. How I need to eat, but I’m starting to listen. I feel like with coaching, training, and all that stuff, you always do what you’re told. Now I’m doing how I feel.”