Paulo Costa is still angry about the bonus decision that followed his win over Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327.
Speaking about the aftermath through Ariel Helwani’s reporting, Costa said he believed his finish deserved more and that the decision bothered him enough to message Dana White and Hunter Campbell directly. The complaint adds another layer to a night that already boosted Costa’s position at light heavyweight after his third-round stoppage of Murzakanov.
Costa was direct about how he saw it.
“I was p***** off about the bonus, I really think I deserved the bonus. That bonus is;$100k, I don’t think [Josh Hokit] deserved two bonuses. I feel like this is an injustice, unfair,” Costa said.
“It triggers the worst feelings, in my mind and my heart. I went crazy and I wanted to smash [things]. I texted them about it, I hope and trust that Dana and Hunter are going to take care of me. They’re going to rethink it, because I think they made a mistake.”
“I performed amazingly,” Costa continued. “I saw [Dana] on the walk back, and he said ‘You did amazing, incredible!’. He knows that. And Trump loved my fight too.”
Paulo Costa was so upset that he texted Dana White directly after not receiving a bonus following UFC 327:
“I really think I deserved the bonus. That bonus is $100K. I don’t think Hokit deserved two bonuses. I feel like this is an injustice—unfair. It triggers the worst feelings… pic.twitter.com/8yhPBl6W8W
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 14, 2026
Paulo Costa says the UFC made a mistake with the bonus decision
Costa’s frustration is aimed at the bonus split, especially with Josh Hokit taking home two bonuses the same night. That part of the fallout kept moving after Hokit fired back at Costa over the complaint. Costa’s position is simple. He thinks the UFC made the wrong call, and he says he already took that complaint straight to the top.
The result itself also mattered beyond the bonus issue. Costa had already said after the event that he feels closer to a title shot at 205 than he did at middleweight, so missing the bigger post-fight money only added more frustration to a night he otherwise viewed as a major statement win.
