Paulo Costa is looking for a fight with the former champ.
Fresh off his impressive win over Marvin Vettori at UFC Paris, former champion Robert Whittaker is already receiving callouts. Whittaker was able to dismantle Vettori through three rounds in the co-main event of the very first UFC Paris card. Whittaker showed that he is still one of the best in the UFC at 185 pounds. After the fight, he shouted out his own praise and sent a reminder to the fans and other fighters that he is at the top and could give any fighter a run for their money.
“I’m the most dangerous man in the division,” Whittaker said at the post-fight press conference. “Israel’s the champ. He beat me twice, hats off to him for that. He’s a great fighter, he really is. And I think stylistically he’s a great fighter, but I still think I’m the most dangerous man in the division, because I win. I win a lot and I make people hate fighting. I take the fight out of them, because that’s what I do. I get in there and I get to work.”
In a division as stacked as middleweight is, there is not a lack of capable fighters looking to take their shot at a former champion. One man who is looking for a shot just like that is Paulo Costa.
Paulo Costa is looking for a possible bout with Robert Whittaker
Paulo Costa is coming off a big win himself. He defeated Luke Rockhold just a few weeks ago at UFC 278 and reasserted himself in title contention talks. If he can win over a guy like Whittaker he would make a great case for himself against the winner of the upcoming championship bout between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira.
Costa doesn’t just want to beat Whittaker, he wants to make a point doing it. He took to Twitter to express his desire to knock him out.
when I fight whittaker it won't be by decision, I'll go for the knockout. I hope he doesn't change divisions before then.
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) September 4, 2022
“When I fight (Robert) Whittaker it won’t be by decision,” Paulo Costa wrote. “I’ll go for the knockout. I hope he doesn’t change divisions before then.”
A lot hangs in the balance in the middleweight division. The outcome of the title fight between Adesanya and Pereira can determine who is next, and also who will stay in the division. Whittaker has lost to Adesanya twice now, he has been toying with the idea of jumping up to light heavyweight in order to give himself a fresh opportunity at a belt. If Adesanya loses Whittaker may stay and then perhaps Costa has a shot at the fight he wants.
