Tag: Paulo Costa

Former middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa has landed the accolade as the current most tested fighter by anti-doping agency, USADA (United States Ant-Doping Agency) as of this year, ahead of his planned Octagon return at UFC 294 in October.

Costa, who currently holds the number six rank in the official middleweight pile, is slated to make his return at UFC 294 later this year, taking on the undefeated number four ranked welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev, in the latter’s return to the middleweight class.

Sidelined since he featured on the main card of UFC 278 back in August of last year, Belo Horizonte native, Paulo Costa turned in a unanimous decision win over former undisputed middleweight titleholder, Luke Rockhold, snapping a winless run of two fights, after consecutive losses to both Israel Adesanya, and Marvin Vettori.

And at the time of publication, Costa, alongside flyweight contender, Charles Johnson – have certainly caught the attention of the above-mentioned anti-doping agency, USADA, with the UFC partners administering a whopping 18 separate tests to the pair since the beginning of 2023. 

Paulo Costa tops USADA testing bill this year

Given the relatively high number of tests issued to Costa, the outspoken Brazilian – who has flaunted an apparent concoction, simply labelled “secret juice” in a marketing ploy this year, the sizeable contender has drawn attention to himself as a result, according to fans across social media. 

Prior to his booking with the undefeated finisher, Chimaev at UFC 294 later this year in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Costa was expected to fight Dana White’s Contender Series product, Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 291 at the end of alst month in Salt Lake City, Utah, however, confirmed he never put pen to paper on a deal.

UFC 294 takes place on October 21. from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with an undisputed lightweight title rematch between champion, Islam Makhachev, and former titleholder, Charles Oliveira set to take main event status. 

Do you expect Paulo Costa to beat Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294?

Ahead of his Octagon return at UFC 294 in October, one-time middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa has promised a “savage” win over arch-rival, Khamzat Chimaev in their upcoming showdown – once more predicting a stoppage over the undefeated finisher. 

Costa, the current number seven ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined from active competition since he took main card status at UFC 278 back in August, landing a close, unanimous decision win over former middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold.

As for Chimaev, the Chechen-born contender improved to 12-0 as a professional back in September of last year at UFC 279, landing a first round D’Arce choke submission win over Kevin Holland. 

Paulo Costa plots “savage” finish of Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294

Predicting various routes to victory over undefeated challenger, Chimaev in the Middle East, Costa has vowed to land a “savage” triumph over the former, insisting there is no way in which the AllStars MMA mainstay can win on ‘Fight Island’.

“I don’t see any chance of him (Khamzat Chimaev) winning the fight,” Paulo Costa told MMA Junkie. “Honestly, I’m being very honest. This will be savage. This will be fireworks. This will be wild. I bring my best, I will be there.”

“I think the winner of this fight is going to be the first for the title shot,” Paulo Costa explained. “I think the winner between me and Khamzat will be next in the line for the title shot.” 

Prior to his win over former middleweight champion, Rockhold, Costa had suffered a pair of losses consecutively to Italian contender, Marvin Vettori, which followed a first professional loss in the form of a second round TKO loss to two-time division champion, Israel Adesanya back in 2020 – in the Brazilian’s first title challenge under the banner of the Dana White-led promotion. 

Can Paulo Costa be the first to defeat Khamzat Chimaev in their UFC 294 clash?

Ahead of his Octagon return at UFC 294 in October, one-time middleweight championship challenger, Paulo Costa has promised to “take over” Abu Dhabi – and make arch-rival, Khamzat Chimaev “suffer” in their long-awaited grudge-match.

Costa, the current number seven ranked middleweight contender, is scheduled to make his first Octagon outing since August of last year in his return at UFC 294 in October, taking on the undefeated Chimaev in the Chechen’s return to the middleweight limit to boot.

Sidelined since UFC 278 last summer in Salt Lake City, Costa most recently snapped a two-fight losing skid with a unanimous decision win over former undisputed middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold over the course of three rounds.

As for Chimaev, the unbeaten 12-0 finisher has been sidelined since September of last year, most recently turning in a first round D’Arce choke submission win over Kevin Holland at the T-Mobile Arena. Chimaev currently holds the number four rank in the official welterweight pile.

Paulo Costa plans to make Khamzat Chimaev “suffer” at UFC 294

Jabbing back-and-forth with AllStars MMA staple, Chimaev over the course of recent weeks following the confirmation of their matchup in the Middle East, Costa claimed he would knock out the former in the first round. And has now laid the ground works to make Chimaev “suffer” when they share the Octagon.

“I hate that dude,” Paulo Costa said of Khamzat Chimaev during an interview with MMA Junkie. “I’m training to make him suffer. Not only to beat him – but I want to do that in great style. I put all my skills and all my concentration, focus to be better than ever.”

“Physically, mentally, technically, all parts together to help me perform better than ever,” Paulo Costa continued. “I know over there in Abu Dhabi it will be kind of his house, but I don’t care. I’m going there to take over.” 

Do you expect Paulo Costa to defeat Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294?

Ahead of his impending middleweight division climb at UFC 294 in October, undefeated welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev appears to be packing on the mass ahead of his Abu Dhabi, UAE clash against former title chaser, Paulo Costa.

Chimaev, the current number four ranked welterweight contender, improved to 12-0 as a professional back in September of last year, securing a first round D’Arce choke submission win over Kevin Holland in the pair’s impromptu catchweight clash at UFC 279.

And making a return to the middleweight limit for the first time since a debut win over John Philips in his Octagon landing back in the summer of 2020, Chimaev will draw one-time middleweight title challenger, Costa in his return to the weight class in the Middle East this fall.

Khamzat Chimaev appears in great shape ahead of his UFC 294 return

Sending fans and followers alike into raptures on his official social media overnight, Khamzat Chimaev showed off a massive back and frame in a picture taken in front of a mirror, appearing to pack on the size ahead of his return to 185 pounds later this year. 

Turning in two impressive victories last year, Chimaev, a staple of AllStars MMA most recently landed a win at the welterweight limit in April of last year, defeating former title challenger, Gilbert Burns in a close, unanimous decision win in Jacksonville, Florida. 

And ahead of his clash with Costa at UFC 294, Chimaev, who has been labelled as a “dead man walking” by the Belo Horizonte native, claimed Brazilian fans have been offering their own support to him throughout the build-up of the pairing, while insisting he will make Costa “cry” inside the Octagon in October.

Chimaev has also received the backing of former two-weight champion and UFC color commentator, Daniel Cormier ahead of his return, claiming a win for the Chechen over Costa would likely see him earn a middleweight title fight against Israel Adesanya.

Will Khamzat Chimaev remain undefeated at UFC 294 in October?

Sharing a tense back-and-forth ahead of their October pairing in Abu Dhabi, former middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa has now predicted a quickfire win over rival, Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 – envisioning an opening round knockout win over the unbeaten finisher.

Costa, the current number seven ranked middleweight contender, will welcome Chimaev back to the 185 pound division at UFC 294 in the Middle East, returning to the Octagon for the first time since he featured at UFC 278 back in August, where he defeated former champion, Luke Rockhold with a unanimous decision win.

As for Chimaev, the Chechen-born contender most recently co-headlined UFC 279 back in September, submitting Kevin Holland in an impromptu co-headliner at a catchweight limit, stopping the Riverside native in the opening round.

Both men have issued barbs in each other’s direction ahead of their October matchup, with AllStars MMA staple, Chimaev vowing to make the Brazilian “cry” inside the Octagon at UFC 294.

Paulo Costa predicts first round KO over Khamzat Chimaev in October

For Costa, the Belo Horizonte native has claimed Chimaev is a “dead man walking” ahead of the bout, and has now predicted a first round win over the 12-0 berserker in their co-main event slot. 

“I think this fight will be crazy and it’s going to end in the first round,” Paulo Costa said during an interview on MMA Fighting.

“Knockout, I will not try to submit him (Khamzat Chimaev),” Paulo Costa explained. “I’m a black belt but I will not try to submit him. I don’t think he’s going to try to submit me as well. So explosive of a guy, so full of energy. I prefer knockout.” 

Challenging for middleweight gold back in 2020, Costa suffered a second round knockout loss to current and two-time divisional champion, Israel Adesanya in Abu Dhabi, UAE. 

Can Paulo Costa hand Khamzat Chimaev his first loss at UFC 294?