The middleweight division is “rife with opportunity”.
With a new champion on the throne in Dricus du Plessis, two fighters in the co-main event aim to get a shot at him. Former champion Robert Whittaker is out for blood and so is his opponent, Brazilian brute and one-time title challenger Paulo Costa.
The potential title eliminator takes place from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Round 1:
Whittaker lands a leg kick. Costa returns with one of his own. Costa hits Whittaker with a left hand. Head lick lands for Costa. Costa works behind the jab. Whittaker throws a leg kick. Whittaker presses forward with the jab. Giant jab lands for Whittaker. Whittaker lands multiple shots on Costa.
Leg kick lands for Whittaker. Costa returns fire. Costa is caught by Whittaker’s jab. Whittaker lands big on Costa. Whittaker works his kicks at great speed. Whittaker lands a sidekick to the body. Costa fires a spinning wheel kick that rocks Whittaker. Whittaker eats more shots from Costa, but is saved by the bell.
CDS: 10-9 Costa
Round 2:
Whittaker lands a leg kick . Costa throws a headkick. Costa clips Whittaker with a punch. Costa eats a headkick by Whittaker and smiles after the strike. Costa tags Whittaker with a jab. Costa presses Whittaker’s face like a button. The fight is paused after an accidental eye poke from Whittaker. The fight continues.
Leg kick lands for Whittaker. Whittaker lands a combo on Costa. Whittaker works the jab and follows it up with a leg kick. 1-2 lands for Whittaker. Costa is caught by multiple punches from the former champion. Costa goes for a headkick which is blocked by Whittaker.
Whittaker lands big shots up top on Costa. Another leg kick lands for the Australian.
CDS: 10-9 Whittaker
Round 3:
Costa swings big but misses. Whittaker throws the left hand. Effective jab by Whittaker. Costa lands a leg kick. Costa throws a knee to the body. Stinging left hand lands for Whittaker. Costa eats shots from Whittaker. Costa signals to Whittaker to throw down at the center of the Octagon. Whittaker doesn’t oblige, keeping his distance.
Whittaker pumps out the jab. Costa eats a punch from Whittaker. Whittaker continues to have success in the striking department. Whittaker lands a leg kick. Jab lands for ‘The Reaper’. Whittaker feints a takedown before the final bell sounds.
Official result: Robert Whittaker defeats Paulo Costa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Check out the highlights below:
BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER 😮💨@RobWhittakerMMA takes home the UD in our #UFC298 co-main event! pic.twitter.com/S41tTqNWQv
— UFC (@ufc) February 18, 2024
