Paulo Costa doesn’t expect his fight with Luke Rockhold to last the distance.
Costa welcomes back the former middleweight champion in the UFC 278 co-headliner taking place this weekend at Salt Lake City, Utah.
“The Eraser” is in a much better place, especially physically, and is looking to return to the win column for the first time since 2019.
He’s ready for a three-round war. But with that said, he doesn’t believe Rockhold can hang with him for that long.
That is why he expects the fight to end fairly quickly.
“I prepare for a war, but I really don’t believe he can hang with me,” Costa said during media day. “I think this fight will finish quickly, but I don’t care. If he could, in some way, hold (his own) and bring a war, I’m ready.”
Paulo Costa Has No Doubts About Testing Rockhold’s Chin
Like Costa, Rockhold is on a two-fight losing streak.
However, the American hasn’t competed since 2019 while his last win came all the way back in 2017.
With three knockout defeats in his last four outings as well as his overall inactivity, many feel it’s a given that Rockhold will end up getting finished by the hard-hitting Brazilian.
Costa certainly feels that way, but doesn’t think he’ll have to hurt Rockhold early on.
He expects to hurt him regardless and test his chin.
“I don’t know if I need to hurt him on the very beginning of the fight, but his chin will be tested,” Costa added. “I have no doubt about that.”
