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Surging UFC Contender Vows To Win Three Titles & Retire

Paulo Costa may be the most powerful rising contender in mixed martial arts (MMA) right now. The hulking Brazilian knockout artist has surged to four straight wins since debuting in the UFC in March 2017. His most recent win came over longtime vet Uriah Hall in a bad blood-fueled bout at July’s UFC 226. The […]

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Paulo Costa may be the most powerful rising contender in mixed martial arts (MMA) right now.

The hulking Brazilian knockout artist has surged to four straight wins since debuting in the UFC in March 2017. His most recent win came over longtime vet Uriah Hall in a bad blood-fueled bout at July’s UFC 226. The win earned him a perceived shot at former interim title challenger Yoel Romero at November 3’s UFC 230 from New York City.

That bout fell apart, unfortunately, when “The Soldier of God” was forced to heal from facial injuries. That put Costa’s return timetable on hold for the time being. However, it’s not affecting his extremely lofty career goals as a result.

Costa recently told Ag Fight (via Bloody Elbow) that he’s aiming to win three UFC titles and retire. He claimed he can fight at welterweight, middleweight, and light heavyweight:

“My career plan is simply to retain three belts and retire. I can fight at welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight. I want to do boxing afterwards, before I turn 35. Who was a plan B never accomplishes plan A or B. You can’t have a plan B in life. When you have a plan B, you’ll give up in the first adversity you face. So what did I do? I said I would never have a plan B. My only one is plan A.”

Accomplishing those goals would obviously rank Costa as one of the best UFC fighters of all-time – if not the best. But it’s tough to doubt him at this current point of his career.

Costa has racked up a spotless 12-0 record in MMA, and he’s finished every single one of those wins. He now owns the No. 8 spot on the official UFC rankings at middleweight There’s little doubt he’s fully deserving of a fight against someone like Romero, a scary thought considering he only made his octagon debut last year.

His full focus is on becoming UFC champion. To him, he never had any other plan because he simply couldn’t afford one:

“I never had money to catch the bus to go train, nor to buy my supplements. I spent six months away from home, I spent Christmas, New Year’s, everything, away from my family, with no means to go visit them, I simply soldiered through all that, because I had no plan B.”

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Tyron Woodley’s Coach Thinks He’s Nearing GOAT Status

Tyron Woodley’s coach thinks he is nearing welterweight greatness.

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Tyron Woodley’s coach thinks he is nearing welterweight greatness.

Just how good is the reigning defending welterweight champion T-Wood? Only Hall of Famers Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes have more title defenses at 170 pounds than Woodley. St-Pierre has a staggering nine defenses and Hughes has five from his time as a dominant champion. If Woodley is able to defend his title one more time he will tie Hughes with five successful defenses.

Since day one, Woodley has had aspirations of greatness. He has repeatedly stated his desire to go down as the greatest welterweight fighter of all time. Though that title is usually given to GSP, Woodley is definitely in the discussion for the top three.

Woodley most recently defeated the previously unbeaten Darren Till in the main event of UFC 228. In so doing retaining his title for the fourth straight time. Now Woodley’s coach Din Thomas believes with another successful defense “The Chosen One” will be on par with St-Pierre.

Din Thomas on T-Wood

“I think, at this point, I’m going to have to say second,” Thomas said recently on The MMA Hour when asked to assess Woodley’s all-time welterweight ranking. “Like you said, I think his résumé speaks for itself, when you think of the guys that he has beaten, even in his come-up, between like Carlos Condit, Kelvin Gastelum, Robbie Lawler. He’s beaten all those guys.

“But I think that a couple more title defenses will solidify his position. I think that’s all he needs. A win over Colby — to me, I think Colby’s an easy opponent, to be honest with you, but just on the résumé he kinda needs that just so he can have more title defenses — and maybe even Usman, but if he gets those two then he’s the best of all-time.”

Covington Next

A fight between Woodley and Covington seems like a foregone conclusion. UFC president Dana White stated before UFC 228 that “Chaos” is the next in line to challenge for the welterweight title. Although White has been known to waffle on his words ion the past.

“He doesn’t have anything that’s dangerous to Tyron,” Thomas explained. “He doesn’t have the ability to knock him out with one punch if Tyron slips, he doesn’t have the ability to choke Tyron out — to play ‘take him down, take his back, choke him out.’ I don’t think he has that ability. The way Colby can win that fight is to obviously grind him out, and I don’t think he can outwrestle Tyron to get up to that point. So to me, that’s just kind of an easier matchup.”

Woodley was rumored to be defending his title at UFC 230 on November 3. However, it has since been revealed that he will be sidelined for eight to 12 weeks because of hand surgery stemming from a dislocated thumb and three torn ligaments.

Woodley & White Beef

White and Woodley have had a contentious relationship in the past. So when White was conspicuously absent from the UFC 228 press conference the media perceived White’s action as a sleight to Woodley. However, Thomas wouldn’t go that far.

“Being on the (Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight) show with Dana, I know how hard he works. I know his schedule and I know he keeps everything really tight, so I would never speculate that he didn’t show up because he disliked Tyron or he didn’t want Tyron to win,” Thomas said. “In fact, when he came into the cage, he kinda gave me a nod and was like, ‘Good job.’ I mean, of course everybody’s going to speculate that he didn’t like it, but I know, like I said, Dana keeps a very tight schedule. I know that he was leaving — I was talking to his security guy afterward saying, ‘Man, we got a flight to catch.’

“And sometimes Dana, it’s just like, his schedule, he’s tired all the time, so I don’t want to use that as the excuse but I just know he keeps a tight schedule. So that’s the only reason why I could see he wouldn’t be at the press conference. I would like to see him come out with a statement and congratulate Tyron. That would be good, because it’s easy to criticize fighters, but when they show and prove, when they show up and give you what you ask, I think it’s only right to give them their props.”

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Tyron Woodley to Undergo Hand Surgery; Out of UFC 230 Running

The never-ending mystery of who will main event UFC 230 continues, as one leading candidate: Woodley vs. Covington has been ruled out according to an ESPN report that announced Tyron Woodley will need right hand surgery and will be out 2-3 months. Dana…

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Colby Covington Is Next For Tyron Woodley But Highly Doubtful It Happens at UFC 230

It looks like Colby Covington will get the next crack at UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley but now it just remains to be seen when the fight will take place. Covington was lined up as the No. 1 contender after becoming the interim champion at UFC…

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Alexander Gustafsson Calls For Jon Jones Rematch With Title On Line

Jon Jones’ eligibility date to return to mixed martial arts (MMA) is nearing. With Daniel Cormier tied up in a heavyweight feud with Brock Lesnar, Jones has some options to consider. Alexander Gustafsson has thrown his name into the hat. Gustafss…

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Jon Jones’ USADA Suspension Reduced Thanks To ‘Snitching’ Clause

More information about his suspension being reduced as surfaced.

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Jon Jones’ USADA suspension was reduced due to an interesting clause in their policy and that information has surfaced online. It’s been well documented that the former UFC light heavyweight champion was initially facing a 48-month suspension.

Jon Jones’ USADA Suspension Reduced

However, it was revealed on Wednesday that it was reduced to just 18 months following arbitration.

Jones failed an in-competition drug test for Turinabol at UFC 214 after he beat Daniel Cormier by third-round TKO. This fight took place in the main event in July of 2017 in Anaheim, California. Back in February, it was revealed that the CSAC revoked Jones’ MMA license and fined him $205,000.

‘Snitching’ Clause

It was noted in the statement that three months of that reduction were due to a small reduction in Jones’ degree of fault. The belief from the arbitrator was due to him not deliberately intending to cheat.

The interesting part is the fact that thirty months reduction were due to the “snitching” clause that is in the UFC’s anti-doping program.

So what does this mean? Well, it turns out that Jones has been telling USADA information that could lead to them giving out suspensions to fighters or criminal investigations into individuals. As a result of doing this, it would likely imply Jones’ information is significant for USADA and thus, he received a greater reduction.

In the policy, it specifically states the clause will give a reduction when the information results in USADA discovering or bringing forward a violation. In more simple terms, if Jones tells them that he has heard a rumor that someone is doing something wrong that wouldn’t cut it.

Instead, he needs detailed information about the use or supply of drugs. It’s not all over as Jones is required to continue to provide this information and if he doesn’t then his suspension will be reinstated.

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