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Paulo Costa Reacts to Conor McGregor’s UFC 302 announcement, calls for a clash with the Irishman

With the news that Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return to the Octagon would be at middleweight, fighters and fans already…

With the news that Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return to the Octagon would be at middleweight, fighters and fans already doing some fantasy matchmaking for the future.

After literal years of speculation, we now know that the Irishman will make his “greatest comeback in combat sports history” on June 28. On that date, he is expected to headline UFC 302 as part of the promotion’s annual International Fight Week event in Las Vegas. McGregor confirmed that he would square off with ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler, but threw fans a curveball when he added that the bout would take place at 185 pounds.

With McGregor moving up three weight classes from where his UFC career began, there are a lot of intriguing money-matchups to be made. Unsurprisingly, one-time middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa was one of the first to throw his name into the mix for a clash with the new buffed-up version of ‘Mystic Mac.

“I gonna step in replacing chandler,” Costa wrote in response to McGregor’s fight announcement online.

I gonna step in replacing chandler https://t.co/6YbC4tlCzc

— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) December 31, 2023

Costa followed that up with another post, saying:

“Costa x Mc Gregor at 185lbs”

Like McGregor, Paulo Costa is expected to make his Octagon return in 2024

Fans have not seen ‘The Eraser’ in action since he won a bizarrely entertaining encounter with former middleweight world champion Luke Rockhold in August 2022. Following the contest, he underwent a lengthy contract negotiation with the UFC. Signing a new deal that reportedly guarantees him upwards of $1 million per fight, Costa has been booked for not one, but two fights that ultimately fell through.

He was first expected to make his Octagon return against Ikram Aliskerov in July, but the fight was canceled after he had accepted a contest with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. Two weeks before fight night in Abu Dhabi, Costa revealed that he had undergone elbow surgery due to an infection. With a second surgery necessary, Costa was forced out of the bout altogether.

He is now scheduled to square off with perennial contender and former 185-pound king Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 in February.

Paulo Costa calls out ‘Chechen Fraud’ Khamzat Chimaev, seeks unbeaten star for blockbuster UFC 300 fight

Although Paulo Costa has a fight with Robert Whittaker lined up for UFC 298, he’s claiming that he wants…

Although Paulo Costa has a fight with Robert Whittaker lined up for UFC 298, he’s claiming that he wants to make a quick turnaround to participate in the historic UFC 300 event.

The fight with Whittaker is rapidly approaching, and in mid-February fans will get to see the clash. Costa is 3-2 in his last five, with his last win a decision victory over Luke Rockhold.

Khamzat Chimaev and Paulo Costa have been scheduled to fight before, but the fight ultimately fell through and was canceled. This has no doubt left Costa eager to finally face the Chechen-born Swede in the octagon.

Paulo Costa wants war with ‘Chechen Fraud’ Khamzat Chimaev

Taking to Twitter (as he so often does), Paulo Costa launched a few insults in the direction of Chimaev and hinted that he’d like to throw down with the man at UFC 300. Such a fight would doubtlessly be of absurd hype, considering the venue, and Costa has shown fans he loves the spotlight.

“Gourmet chenchen fraud still hidden,” Costa began on Twitter. “I gonna fight Whittaker Feb 17 and also April UFC 300 and while this bum trying get some muscles.”

Delivering some very eloquent lines, Paulo Costa is setting the stage for a giant 2024. A win over Whittaker at UFC 298, followed by an absurdly hyped fight with Chimaev at UFC 300 could land ‘Borrachina’ back in title contention. Especially considering the looming fight between Dricus Du Plessis and middleweight champion Sean Strickland, which could go either way.

Do you think Paulo Costa vs. Khamzat Chimaev would be a good fight?

Paulo Costa’s manager claims fight with Robert Whittaker at UFC 299 is a ‘Done Deal’ on their end

Paulo Costa has been waiting to hear back from the UFC in regards to a potential middleweight clash with…

Paulo Costa has been waiting to hear back from the UFC in regards to a potential middleweight clash with perennial contender Robert Whittaker next year.

That is according to Tamara Alves, Costa’s girlfriend and manager, who told MMA Fighting via text message that they have been eagerly awaiting a response on the potential clash for weeks, seemingly suggesting that Whittaker’s team are the ones who have been dragging their feet on getting the fight signed.

“I would like to make it clear, we have been asking for the fight between Paulo and Whittaker for weeks,” Alves wrote.

Whittaker’s representative, Titus Day, offered a different take during an interview with Fox Sports Australia, saying Costa had “vanished” and that the one-time title challenger was “just playing f*cking games again.”

Alves snapped back at Day’s comments claiming that any delay in negotiations is not the doing of her client.

“I don’t know what was his intention in saying that Paulo is playing games,” she wrote. “If he wants, he can call me and we can talk about what’s really going on without telling lies and assumptions about any athlete.”

Alves claims that Costa vs. Whittaker is a ‘Done Deal’ on their side of things

Tamara Alves also clarified that, while no bout agreement has been signed, “the deal is done” on their end and they are just waiting for the UFC to determine a suitable date for the middleweight clash.

“We’re just waiting for the company answer,” she wrote. “Besides, the UFC 299 on March 9th in Miami is perfect for Paulo, and we already expressed our desire for this date. This will be an exciting fight for the fans!”

Paulo Costa has not competed inside the Octagon since scoring a bizarrely entertaining unanimous decision against Luke Rockhold at UFC 278 in August 2022. The Eraser’ has been booked for two separate fights, including a meeting with Ikram Aliskerov in July and a showdown with Khamzat Chimaev in October, both of which fell through.

Robert Whittaker’s last appearance came at UFC 290 over the summer. ‘The Reaper’ suffered a second-round knockout to South African standout Dricus Du Plessis. Before the loss to ‘Stillknocks,’ Whittaker’s only two defeats dating back to 2019 came at the hands of two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya.

With ‘The Last Stylebender’ taking an extended break from fighting, Whittaker could find himself back in the title picture should he net himself an impressive win over Costa.

robert Whittaker targets UFC 300 return, Paulo Costa fight axed: ‘He’s just playing games again’

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker may have verbally agreed to fight former title challenger, Paulo Costa at UFC…

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker may have verbally agreed to fight former title challenger, Paulo Costa at UFC 299 in March, however, the ex-titleholder will now target a UFC 300 return instead, with his manager claiming the Brazilian is still “playing games” on a bout with his client.

Whittaker, the current number three ranked middleweight contender, most recently featured on the main card of UFC 290 back in July during International Fight Week, dropping a stunning second round TKO loss to incoming UFC 297 headliner and title challenger, Dricus du Plessis.

Suffering his first loss at the middleweight limit to any contender other than former two-time foe and champion, Israel Adesanya, Whittaker has the subject of a call out from Brazilian ace, Costa, who claimed he was prepared to fight him in the opening quarter of next year.

And himself targeting a fight in March at UFC 299 – which is currently slated for a Miami, Florida landing pad, Whittaker tagged Costa in a post on his official social media – adding fuel to the fire of a once-planned pairing.

However, as far as the ex-champion’s manager, Titus Day is concerned, a UFC 300 return against former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman is on the New Zealand-born fighter’s radar, who accused Costa of “playing games again” during a recent interview with Fox Sports Australia.

Robert Whittaker targets UFC 300 clash with Kamaru Usman

Himself talking up the possibility of fighting former pound-for-pound number one, Usman in the future, Whittaker urged the Auchi native to remain at the 185 pound limit amid a recent divisional bow against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 back in October.

“Definitely, the (Kamaru) USman fight interests me because I just think we are both guys that are at the tip of the food chain and I want to give him a proper welcome to the middleweight division,” Robert Whittaker told Submission Radio. “I just like that fight… he’s one of the best welterweights to do it and I think fighting fights of that calibre makes me excited. It’s a face I haven’t fought before, it’s exciting, it’s different.”

Would you like to see Robert Whittaker fight Kamaru Usman next?

Paulo Costa Claims Khamzat Chimaev Rejected UFC Saudi Arabia Clash: ‘Gourmet chenchen doesn’t want that smoke’

Paulo Costa wants to see his previously scheduled fight with Khamzat Chimaev moved to next year’s UFC Saudi Arabia…

Paulo Costa wants to see his previously scheduled fight with Khamzat Chimaev moved to next year’s UFC Saudi Arabia card.

It’s been 16 months since fight fans have seen ‘The Eraser’ back in the Octagon following a bizarre, yet decisive unanimous decision win over Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. After a lengthy contract negotiation that saw him re-sign with the promotion on a four-fight deal, the one-time title challenger looked to jump right back into the mix at middleweight.

Costa was scheduled to square off with undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, but ‘Borrachinha’ was forced to withdraw from the bout due to an infection in his elbow that required multiple surgeries.

Former welterweight world champion Kamaru Usman stepped up and took his spot against Chimaev in the co-main event clash.

Paulo Costa plans to stay active in 2024

Recently, Costa took to social media to suggest that his long-awaited fight with Chimaev be moved to the UFC’s highly anticipated debut in Saudi Arabia next year. However, he also claimed that ‘Borz’ seemingly wants nothing to do with the matchup.

“I have been persistently telling the UFC to reschedule this fight for UFC Saudi Arabia, I can’t see a best main event of 5 rounds for it right now cause it’s make sense in Middle East. I would love beat his ass over there . but it’s looks like gourmet chenchen doesn’t want that smoke,” Costa wrote on X.

I have been persistently telling the UFC to reschedule this fight for UFC Saudi Arabia, I can’t see a best main event of 5 rounds for it right now cause it’s make sense in Middle East. I would love beat his ass over there . but it’s looks like gourmet chenchen doesn't want that…

— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) December 6, 2023

In a follow-up post, Costa expressed interest in a potential meeting with former middleweight champ and perennial contender Robert Whittaker should things not come to fruition with Chimaev.

“Other guys in List is Rob , if he is interested in this I proposal they should match up it sooner than later , cause I want to be active in 24,” he added.

Other guys in List is Rob , if he is interested in this I proposal they should match up it sooner than later , cause I want to be active in 24

— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) December 7, 2023

The UFC will head to Riyadh for the first time on March 2, 2024. Thus far, only two bouts have been announced for the history-making event. Eryk Anders is expected to meet Jamie Pickett in a middleweight matchup while returning undefeated prospect Muhammad Mokaev is scheduled to make his sixth appearance for the promotion against Alex Perez.

Are you still interested in seeing Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev square off inside the Octagon?

Paulo Costa claims ‘Deal is done’ to fight ‘Adorable’ Robert Whittaker at UFC 299 in march comeback

Former undisputed middleweight championship challenger, Paulo Costa has claimed a “deal is done” for him to fight former titleholder,…

Former undisputed middleweight championship challenger, Paulo Costa has claimed a “deal is done” for him to fight former titleholder, Robert Whittaker in a return to the Octagon for both of them at UFC 299 in March of next year.

Costa, the current number six ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since he featured against former undisputed titleholder, Luke Rockhold back in August of last year in Salt Lake City, defeating the Santa Cruz veteran with a close, unanimous decision win to snap his two-fight losing skid.

As for Whittaker, the Auckland-born contender has been sidelined since he suffered a spectacular second round TKO loss to incoming UFC 297 title challenger, Dricus du Plessis backin July during International Fight Week.

And appearing to issue an open challenge to Costa for a clash at UFC 299 in March of next year following the scrapping of a targeted clash at UFC 284 back in February in Australia, Whittaker tagged the Brazilian in a post confirming his plan to feature at the Miami, Florida event.

Paulo Costa claims “deal is done” to fight Robert Whittaker

Sharing his thoughts on a call out from Whittaker, Belo Horizonte native, Costa claimed a bout between the duo was already a “done deal” for next year.

“Tamara showed me this,” Paulo Costa posted on his official X account. “Why are u TAGGING ME Robert (Whittaker), do u really want this fight? It’s adorable, if it’s affirmative that deal is done. Feb is time enough to me, what do u think?”

Slated to make his comeback to the sport at UFC 294 back in October, one-time title challenger, Costa saw a scheduled middleweight fight with the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev fall to the wayside after he suffered a nasty bursitis infection in his elbow ahead of the billed title-eliminator in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Who wins in a potential future fight: Paulo Costa or Robert Whittaker?