Paulo Costa wants in on the Conor McGregor sweepstakes.
Fighting the former featherweight and lightweight champion might have seemed like a fever dream for Costa, but he’s not counting out the possibility, especially after McGregor’s latest claims. To start off his 2024, ‘The Notorious’ announced that he will fight Michael Chandler at middleweight of all divisions.
Costa would joke that he’d step in to replace the lightweight Chandler.
I gonna step in replacing chandler https://t.co/6YbC4tlCzc
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) December 31, 2023
Costa x Mc Gregor at 185lbs 🤫
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) January 1, 2024
Costa Sees A Fight With McGregor As A Real Possibility
While the idea of Costa vs. McGregor sounded funny at first, ‘The Eraser’ is seemingly serious about colliding with the biggest star the UFC has ever seen.
“I think so, honestly,” Costa said on The MMA Hour, regarding a potential fight with McGregor. “I think this can happen, but we’re gonna fight in some way.”
‘We Don’t Have Too Much Middleweight Guys…’
Other than the obvious financial upside that comes with fighting McGregor, Costa explains why he’s so intrigued about having the unlikely matchup.
“He’s moving up, and we don’t have too much middleweight guys right now,” Costa continued. “I think my style and his style is a good matchup. I think he’s huge, strong, good guy. He’s an exceptional fighter, I think. One of the best of all time.
“Chandler can’t fight at 185, I don’t think so. There is better matchups to McGregor at 185 than Michael Chandler.”
Is Conor McGregor trolling?
Many fans believe Conor McGregor might be kidding about the middleweight move, but Costa thinks he’s being for real.
“I think he can [fight at middleweight]. I think he’s serious,” Costa said of McGregor. “He’s so confident on his skills and I think he can. Maybe he makes some jokes. You know? Maybe welterweight is the best for him.”
Paulo Costa will return against former champ Robert Whittaker at UFC 298.
