According to Sean Strickland, Paulo Costa has still not signed the contract for their fight scheduled for June 1.
Emanating from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, UFC 302 will feature the return of lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev as he puts his gold on the line against division fan favorite Dustin Poirier in the main event of the evening.
In the co-main event, former middleweight titleholder Sean Strickland is expected to throw hands with the secret juice-chugging Brazilian in a bout that could have series title implications in the 185-pound division. However, Strickland recently brought the bout into question after claiming on social media that Costa had not yet signed on the dotted line for their date which is days away.
“God damn, Costa. I’ve heard you have yet to sign that contract, and I’ll tell you what man, I didn’t f*cking believe it.” Strickland said in a video on his Instagram. “I did not think you’d be that coward. I thought you would man up, and sack up but instead, you’re acting like you’ve got f*cking ovaries.”
Is costa out? pic.twitter.com/ImSS63WcGj
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) May 15, 2024
“I went on Google and did the right thing and gave you the benefit of the doubt and I noticed something man,” Strickland continued. “After you fought (Israel Adesanya) you went downhill. I don’t know what happened in that little pea brain you have. Do we need to get someone for you to talk to? Do we need to sit you down and have you talk about your f*cking feelings? I think therapy is for weak men, but let me tell you something.
“You’re being a weak man if you can’t sack up and make this sh*t happen. We’ll get someone for you to talk to. Don’t disappoint me, don’t disappoint the fans, let me make you bleed.”
Paulo Costa Has a History of Pulling Out of Fights
In fact, Costa has only fought once since his August 2022 win over former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. That came against Whittaker in a rebooked fight at UFC 298 in February. ‘The Reaper’ went on to win the bout via unanimous decision, setting the stage for his scrap with undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev at UFC Saudi Arabia next month.
Could we be in for another signature Costa withdrawal or will ‘The Eraser’ actually show up in The Garden State?
