Paulo Costa will remain with the UFC after negotiation troubles are resolved.
Paulo Costa has agreed to a new contract with the UFC. The middleweight title contender was in limbo for a while as he was unable to come to terms with the organization. Now Costa is happy to be back and being paid what he believes is what he deserves. He credited his girlfriend and manager Tamara Alves for getting the deal done.
The last time Costa stepped foot in the UFC Octagon was back in August when he defeated Luke Rockhold. Following that bout, many believed that he would only be one more win away from the title shot but that is when things took a turn. Costa was rumored to be fighting Robert Whittaker in Australia at UFC 284. That bout seemed to be a done deal, at least it was on Whittaker’s end. Costa later spoke on several occasions about not being willing to make that bout work unless he restructured his contract.
Paulo Costa has received a contract that could include a fight with Khamzat Chimaev
It looked as if Costa may have been willing to leave the UFC altogether when a deal was not being made. He wrote on social media that he was only one fight from being free of the UFC. Some thought he would be seeking free agency but now he has come to an agreement to return.
“I haven’t signed the contract yet but we have reached a deal with the UFC regarding the pay,” he told PVT. “It wasn’t easy, there was a lot of hard work, and I have to highlight Tamara’s brilliant work here. The UFC wants to make sure this Chimaev fight happen at all costs, but I want to make both happen. We’ll see.”
Costa was asked about facing either Khamzat Chimaev or Sean Strickland, who has called him out. He seemed interested in both fights. Costa is currently ranked fifth in the division and seems to be on many fighters’ radars. He could earn himself a title shot with a win over a top-ranked opponent.
Quotes via MMA Fighting
