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Video – Paulo Costa successfully makes weight for return fight with Robert Whittaker at UFC 298

Yet to tip the scales since he featured back in 2022, former middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa did so…

Yet to tip the scales since he featured back in 2022, former middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa did so successfully today ahead of his return to the Octagon at UFC 298 this weekend, as he takes on Robert Whittaker in a potential title-eliminator.

Costa, the current number six ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined from the Octagon since he took main card honors back in 2022, landing a unanimous decision win over former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight titleholder, Luke Rockhold.

Booked to co-headline UFC 294 back in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Costa was forced from a grudge fight with the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev – suffering a nasty bursitis infection in his elbow, resulting in multiple surgical procedures.

Paulo Costa successfully makes weight for UFC 298

And slated to come back at UFC 298 this weekend at the Honda Center, Belo Horizonte native, Costa takes on former undisputed champion, Whittaker – and for the first time in almost two years, the Brazilian successfully made weight – tipping 185.5 pounds for his co-headliner with the fan-favorite.

Dropping just two professional losses in his career, Brazilian powerhouse, Costa suffered a knockout defeat in an unsuccessful title charge against common-foe, Israel Adesanya – before then forcing an impromptu light heavyweight fight – and subsequent defeat to Marvin Vettori.

Over the course of his tenure in the Dana White-led promotion, Costa has turned in notable wins over the likes of Luke Rockhold, Yoel Romero, Uriah Hall, and former champion, Johny Hendricks.

Who wins at UFC 298 this weekend: Robert Whittaker or Paulo Costa?

Paulo Costa shuts down Khamzat Chimaev grudge fight after UFC 298: ‘He didn’t beat anybody’

Ahead of his return to the Octagon this weekend at UFC 298, former undisputed middleweight champion, Paulo Costa appears…

Ahead of his return to the Octagon this weekend at UFC 298, former undisputed middleweight champion, Paulo Costa appears to have shut down the idea of a rescheduled showdown with long-time rival, Khamzat Chimaev in the future, questioning who of note the Chechen has beaten.

Costa, the current number six ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since 2022, most recently landing a unanimous decision win over former undisputed divisional champion, Luke Rockhold.

And forced from a slated title-eliminator against the unbeaten, Chimaev at UFC 294 back in October of last year, Costa was forced from the Abu Dhabi, UAE clash – after contracting a nasty bursitis infection in his elbow, resulting in a slew of surgical procedures to address the setback.

Booked to feature in the co-main event of UFC 298 this weekend in Anaheim, Costa takes on former titleholder, Robert Whittaker in another rebooked fight.

Paulo Costa rules out Khamzat Chimaev fight after UFC 298

And staking his claim for a second shot at middleweight gold – currently held by Dricus du Plessis, Costa has shot down the idea of a grudge match with Chimaev in the future, questioning who the Chechen contender has defeated of note.

“Of course, everybody knows I don’t like the guy (Khamzat Chimaev),” Paulo Costa told assembled media during his availability ahead of UFC 298. “But I don’t think too much people take him so serious anymore. He just stopped to fight – he didn’t beat anybody in the middleweight division. He didn’t beat anybody in the top 15 [of the] middleweight division.”

“… I like this beef between countries and cultures, and two guys,” Paulo Costa explained. “But after beating (Robert) Whittaker, bro, I will not want to hear his (Chimaev) name. F*ck him. He need to do something. He needs to beat somebody at the top – at least top ten in the middleweight [division]. And I don’t think he’s capable to (sic) do that.”

Do you think Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev ever settle their differences?

UFC 298 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks

UFC 298 goes down this Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, which means it’s time for another round of pre-fight predictions from the B/R combat sports…

Robert Whittaker vows to defeat Dricus du Plessis in rematch after UFC 298: ‘I’m a better fighter than he is’

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker claims that if he fights newly-crowned divisional titleholder, Dricus du Plessis in a…

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker claims that if he fights newly-crowned divisional titleholder, Dricus du Plessis in a rematch after his return to the Octagon at UFC 298 this month, he will avenge his loss to the South African.

Whittaker, a former undisputed middleweight champion and perennial contender at the weight class, has been sidelined since he featured against the Pretoria native in an officially billed title eliminator back in July of last year during International Fight Week.

Suffering his first loss in the division to a fighter other than two-time foe, fellow former kingpin, Israel Adesanya, Whittaker was stopped with a flurry of second round ground strikes following a knockdown for a TKO blemish.

Robert Whittaker eyes rematch with Dricus du Plessis

And drawing former title challenger, Paulo Costa in two weeks’ time at UFC 298 in Anaheim, Whittaker, who vowed to severely “hurt” the Brazilian in their pivotal clash, and when reflecting on his matchup with du Plessis las summer, claimed if they fought again – he beats him nine times out of 10.

“Dricus (du Plessis) is a hungry guy, and I think I underestimated that hunger,” Robert Whittaker told assembled media at a UFC 298 press event in Sydney. “I still believe I beat him nine times out of 10, I still believe that I’m a better fighter than he is, that I have a better skill set than he does, but [fighting] a big, strong, hungry guy that’s willing to leave it all in there, you need to match that. I feel like I didn’t do that in that last fight and it really made me think a little bit.”

Himself expected to make his own return in a title fight against the above-mentioned, Adesanya, du Plessis has been linked with a massive headlining fight on a monumental UFC 300 card in April.

Who wins in a title rematch after UFC 298: Dricus du Plessis or Robert Whittaker?

Robert Whittaker vows to ‘Hurt’ Paulo Costa at UFC 298: ‘I’m coming into this fight hungrier than ever’

Ex-middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker may have had his suspicions that his announced UFC 298 clash with former title challenger,…

Ex-middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker may have had his suspicions that his announced UFC 298 clash with former title challenger, Paulo Costa may actually take place this time around following a February fall out last year. However, with pen now put to paper on a deal, the Australian has vowed to “hurt” Costa in their re-worked clash later this month.

Whittaker, the current number three ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined from the Octagon since he featured on the main card of UFC 290 back in July during International Fight Week.

Suffering his first divisional loss at 185 pounds outside of his pair of defeats to former two-time titleholder, Israel Adesanya, Whittaker was stopped in the second round by newly-minted champion, Dricus du Plessis, with the South African turning in a blistering TKO in the pair’s officially-billed title eliminator.

Booking his return to the Octagon later this month on the main card of UFC 298, Whittaker takes on former title chaser, Costa in a return to Anaheim, attempting to work his way back to a potential rematch with the above-mentioned Pretoria native, du Plessis.

Robert Whittaker promises to “hurt” Paulo Costa at UFC 298

And now with assurances his fight with Costa will take place following a failed targeted clash back in February of last year on home-soil, Whittaker claims he’s hungry for success against the Brazilian – whom he vows to “hurt” en route to a win at UFC 298.

“I’m coming into this fight [at UFC 298] hungrier than ever,” Robert Whittaker assembled media during a press conference in Syndey ahead of UFC 298.. “I’ve been really focusing on bringing that animal back. I’m not just in it – this fight, to win. I’m in it to hurt (Paulo) Costa. And I think that mentality is a powerful thing to have.”

Who wins between Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa at UFC 298 this month?

Robert Whittaker closing as betting favorite to beat Paulo Costa in UFC 298 grudge fight in March

Finally expected to make his long-anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 298 in March, former undisputed middleweight champion,…

Finally expected to make his long-anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 298 in March, former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker is hotly-closing as a short betting favorite to beat former title challenger, Paulo Costa in their grudge fight.

Whittaker, a former undisputed middleweight titleholder, and current number three ranked divisional contender, has been sidelined since he featured on the main card of UFC 290 back in July of last year during International Fight Week, suffering a shocking second round TKO loss to incoming UFC 297 headliner, Dricus du Plessis.

As for Belo Horizonte native, Costa, the former title chaser and current number six ranked challenger, has yet to feature in the Octagon since 2022, most recently beating former undisputed middleweight kingpin, Luke Rockhold in a unanimous decision effort, snapping his two-fight losing skid.

And following a host of fight fallouts – namely against the above-mentioned, Whittaker, Brazilian favorite, Costa is set to fight at UFC 298, however, is closing as a betting underdog.

Robert Whittaker betting favorite to beat Paulo Costa at UFC 298

And if you’re planning on betting on the -185 betting favorite, Robert Whittaker – you can find a detailed review by the Hudson Journal on betting in Australia, where the former champion has headlined in on multiple ocassions.

Closing as a betting underdog – drawing odds of +154 ahead of his scheduled return to the Octagon, Costa was initially expected to fight Robert Whittaker at UFC 294 back in February of last year ‘Down Under’, however, failed to pen official bout agreements for a middleweight clash.

And slated to then compete against unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 back in October of last year in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Costa withdrew from the bout with the Chechen rival due to a nasty bursitis infection in his elbow – which required multiple surgery procedures in order to address.

Without a victory since the premier UFC Fight Night Paris card back in 2022, Robert Whittaker’s most recent win came in the form of a unanimous decision shutout victory over common-foe and former title chaser, Marvin Vettori in a trip to France.

Promoted to the undisputed middleweight titleholder following the official vacating of former two-weight gold holder, Georges St-Pierre, Whittaker turned in a pair of memorable wins over veteran fan-favorite,Yoel Romero during the Cuban powerhouse’s pomp.

Also set for an eye-catching UFC 298 card, undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski headlines in a title fight against unbeaten Georgian contender, Ilia Topuria in the promotion’s return to Anaheim, California.

Furthermore, a potential bantamweight title eliminator is on deck as former two-weight champion and Olympic gold medal winner, Henry Cejudo returns in a clash with another Georgian talent, the streaking, Merab Dvalishvili.

Attempting to earn a bantamweight title fight, the pair are sure to have a keen eye on the main event of UFC 299 in April, as polarizing star, Sean O’Malley takes on Ecuadorian favorite, Marlon Vera in his first attempted defense of the bantamweight crown – as the two share the Octagon for the second time since a 2020 grudge match.

Who wins in the UFC 298 grudge fight: Robert Whittaker or Paulo Costa?