Tag: UFC 294

Paulo Costa tops USADA list as most tested fighter of the year ahead of return at UFC 294, fans point to ‘Secret juice’

Paulo Costa tops USADA list as most tested fighter UFC 294 return secret juiceFormer 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 […]

Paulo Costa tops USADA list as most tested fighter UFC 294 return secret juice

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?

Paulo Costa reveals big plans after he dispatches ‘gourmet Chechen fraud’ Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294

Paulo CostaOne-time middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa has some big plans, and it all starts with handing undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev his first career loss this fall. After more than a year on the shelf, Costa will return to the Octagon on October 21. Originally, ‘The Eraser’ was expected to step inside the cage at […]

Paulo Costa

One-time middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa has some big plans, and it all starts with handing undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev his first career loss this fall.

After more than a year on the shelf, Costa will return to the Octagon on October 21. Originally, ‘The Eraser’ was expected to step inside the cage at UFC 291 in July, but the promotion opted to offer him an even bigger fight against one of the promotion’s most-feared fighters, Khamzat Chimaev, as part of their big return to Abu Dhabi.

Both men are deep into preparations for the highly anticipated middleweight clash, but Paulo Costa is already treating his victory as a foregone conclusion. So much so that the Brazilian standout is already making some pretty big plans for what will come afterward.

“After finish that Gourmet chenchen fraud I gonna take the ufc belt and move definitely to 2 big star boxing matches. and after boxing I gonna star collab with Elon musk. Is already pre accorded,” Costa posted on X.

While it’s never wise for a fighter to count his chickens before they hatch, it’s fair to say that Paulo Costa will be the most dangerous fighter Khamzat Chimaev has faced thus far.

Is Paulo Costa vs. Khamzat Chimaev a Potential Title Eliminator?

Though Costa vs. Chimaev has not been dubbed a title eliminator, it’s hard to see any other fighter more deserving than the one who has their hand raised inside Etihad Arena this October. For Costa, it would represent his second opportunity to become a UFC champion. The first came in September 2020 with current titleholder Israel Adesanya easily dispatching Costa via a second-round knockout.

But for Khamzat Chimaev, a win will secure him his first title fight, something he has been seeking ever since his unanimous decision defeat over Gilbert Burns last year.

Currently, reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is gearing up for a title tilt with often outspoken and always controversial top-ten contender, Sean Strickland. The pair will meet in the UFC 293 main event in September with the winner moving on to face top-ranked contender Dricus Du Plessis in the future. The winner of that fight will then likely find themselves matched up with the winner of Paulo Costa vs. Khamzat Chimaev.

Charles Oliveira tried to trick UFC into moving title fight with Islam Makhachev to Brazil

Charles OliveiraCharles Oliveira is currently gearing up for his highly anticipated return to the Octagon on October 21 for UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. ‘Do Bronx’ will attempt to reclaim the lightweight world title as he runs it back with reigning champion Islam Makhachev in the evening’s massive main event. However, the announcement came as quite […]

Charles Oliveira

Charles Oliveira is currently gearing up for his highly anticipated return to the Octagon on October 21 for UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.

‘Do Bronx’ will attempt to reclaim the lightweight world title as he runs it back with reigning champion Islam Makhachev in the evening’s massive main event. However, the announcement came as quite a surprise considering just weeks prior, Charles Oliveira revealed that he would not be adequately prepared to return in October for their title tilt. As it turns out, that was nothing more than a ploy by the former champ.

During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Charles Oliveira revealed that his ruling out an October return was merely an attempt to get the fight moved to November when the promotion is expected to return to Brazil.

“What changed is that I just learned how to play,” Oliveira revealed through a translator. “What I knew is that the UFC was planning to maybe have a fight in Brazil in November. So I was trying to push it to November. I was playing with them. Obviously, it didn’t work so now I’m fighting in October, but that’s what I was doing.”

Charles Oliveira Seeks Redemption in Long-Awaited Rematch

Unfortunately for Charles Oliveira, his game plan didn’t work, but ‘Do Bronx’ did reveal that he was able to bank a little extra cash for his October clash with the Dagestani destroyer.

The bout will come almost exactly one year removed from their first meeting at UFC 280. On that night, Islam Makhachev made relatively easy work of Oliveira, scoring a second-round submission to capture the vacant lightweight title. Since then, Makhachev has defended the belt once in a Fight of the Year contender with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284.

In June, Charles Oliveira returned to action and earned an impressive first-round TKO against Beneil Dariush to re-establish himself as the division’s top contender, setting the stage for a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s successor.

Islam Makhachev exposes UFC rival Michael Chandler for picking against him in fights: ‘Shoutout my loyal hater’

Islam Makhachev claims Michael Chandler is a loyal hater for picking against him UFCIf the McGregor fight doesn’t take priority, Gaethje will face the winner of Makhachev and Charles Oliveira for the UFC lightweight title. ‘The Highlight’ is fresh off a sensational knockout win over Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 291.  While oddsmakers currently have Gaethje as a +425 underdog against Makhachev, and Oliveira already […]

Islam Makhachev claims Michael Chandler is a loyal hater for picking against him UFC

If the McGregor fight doesn’t take priority, Gaethje will face the winner of Makhachev and Charles Oliveira for the UFC lightweight title. ‘The Highlight’ is fresh off a sensational knockout win over Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 291. 

While oddsmakers currently have Gaethje as a +425 underdog against Makhachev, and Oliveira already holds a stoppage win over him, Chandler backs his fellow American to beat both.  

Talking on his YouTube channel, Chandler broke down his thought process and proclaimed Gaethje to become champion next year. 

“Justin Gaethje is no longer just a pugilist who goes out there and swings for the fences and wants to brawl,” Chandler said on his YouTube channel. “Justin Gaethje is on a quest to win a world title, and I think Justin Gaethje will go out there and win a world title. Whether it’s Makhachev or Oliveira, Gaethje’s going to get that title fight next.

I think Justin Gaethje is the UFC lightweight champion by the first quarter of next year. I think he beats Islam. I think he beats Oliveira. Justin Gaethje has cleaned up. He already had all the attributes, he already had the cardio, the speed, the power, he’s got great wrestling defense. He already had all the attributes. But now, him honing in those skills, it’s gonna be tough for one of those dudes to beat him, I think.” (BJPenn.com) 

Islam Makhachev exposes Michael Chandler

In response to this, Makhachev would make a post to Twitter calling out Chandler for picking against him, and supplied screenshots of all the times that Chandler has done it in the past

‘Shoutout to my loyal haters’- Islam Makhachev

Does Justin Gaethje beat either Islam Makhachev or Chalres Oliveira?

Conor McGregor lashes out at UFC rival Charles Oliveira: ‘You are nobody now, you broke bum’

Conor McGregor lashes out at Charles Oliveira you're a nobody now you broke bum UFCLong-linked with an eventual title billing against fellow former lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, former two-weight UFC gold holder, Conor McGregor has hit out at the Brazilian tonight in a response, after the finishing ace claimed the Dubliner is severely lacking motivation. McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the UFC, […]

Conor McGregor lashes out at Charles Oliveira you're a nobody now you broke bum UFC

Long-linked with an eventual title billing against fellow former lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, former two-weight UFC gold holder, Conor McGregor has hit out at the Brazilian tonight in a response, after the finishing ace claimed the Dubliner is severely lacking motivation.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the UFC, has yet to make his return to the Octagon since headlining UFC 264 back in July of 2021, fracturing his left tibia and fibula against three-time foe and common-opponent, Dustin Poirier in a doctor’s stoppage TKO loss.

As for Oliveira, the current number one ranked lightweight contender is slated to make his own return to the Octagon for his sophomore outing this year at UFC 294 in October in Abu Dhabi, UAE, rematching Islam Makhachev in a lightweight title offing. 

Co-headlining UFC 289 back in June in Canada, Oliveira snapped his winless run in ‘The Great White North’ – as well as the winning streak of perennial contender, Beneil Dariush with a slew of opening round ground strikes for a first round TKO victory. 

Embarking in a late-night tirade on his official X account, former duel-weight champion, McGregor was the subject of a response from Oliveira – after posting “Fighting is MOTIVATION”.

“Lol,” Charles Oliviera posted in response to Conor McGregor. “You’re without motivation more thna 2 years.”

Conor McGregor blasts Charles Oliveira in tirade on his X account

Hitting out at Oliveira – who holds the most submission wins and most overall finishes in the antiquity of the UFC, McGregor claimed the former champion was a “nobody” without his championship strap again.

“Recovering from a leg break, you nobody,” Conor McGregor replied to Charles Oliveira.”You are nobody now, again.”

“Get off that Lamborghini you broke bum,” Conor McGregor posted.

Yet to book his own expected return to the Octagon, McGregor, 35, has called for a symbolic BMF title fight with newly-minted titleholder, Justin Gaethje off the back of his stunning high-kick knockout win over the aforenoted, Poirier at UFC 291.

Would you like to see Conor McGregor fight Charles Oliveira in the future?

Paulo Costa promises finish of Khamzat Chimaev in UFC 294 grudge fight: ‘Honestly, this will be savage’

Paulo Costa claims he will land savage finish over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in OctoberAhead 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 […]

Paulo Costa claims he will land savage finish over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October

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?