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Shows well in co-main defeat
Costa lost to Robert Whittaker via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 27-30) at UFC 298 on Saturday in Anaheim.
ANALYSIS
Fighting for the first time since August 2022 and entering as a +185 underdog, Costa put forth one heck of a showing. He looked healthy and effective, and that alone is a step in the right direction. Costa was responsible for the biggest moment of the fight, bashing Whittaker with a head kick late in Round 1. Rob was in all sorts of trouble, and Paulo may have very well gotten the stoppage if there were even a few more seconds left on the clock. Costa faded some in Round 2 but roared back for a solid Round 3, with Whittaker gaining an extremely slight edge. It's not easy to look past the defeat considering the Brazilian has just a single win dating back to August 2019, but this was a highly encouraging effort from Costa. His next step is to try and step in the Octagon a bit more frequently.
Fighting for the first time since August 2022 and entering as a +185 underdog, Costa put forth one heck of a showing. He looked healthy and effective, and that alone is a step in the right direction. Costa was responsible for the biggest moment of the fight, bashing Whittaker with a head kick late in Round 1. Rob was in all sorts of trouble, and Paulo may have very well gotten the stoppage if there were even a few more seconds left on the clock. Costa faded some in Round 2 but roared back for a solid Round 3, with Whittaker gaining an extremely slight edge. It's not easy to look past the defeat considering the Brazilian has just a single win dating back to August 2019, but this was a highly encouraging effort from Costa. His next step is to try and step in the Octagon a bit more frequently.
Draws Whittaker at UFC 298
Costa is scheduled to face Robert Whittaker in a middleweight bout at UFC 298 in Anaheim on Feb. 17, Aaron Bronsteter of TSN.ca reports.
ANALYSIS
Costa had previously been scheduled to face Robert Whittaker at UFC 284 this past February, but the bout was ultimately nixed. The 32-year-old Costa last fought in August 2022, when he scored an unanimous decision win over Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. He then had both of his last two scheduled fights cancelled, as Costa was forced to withdraw from a matchup with Khamzat Chimaev on Oct. 21 at UFC 294 after requiring surgery to treat an infected bursa in his right elbow. Costa has since made a full recovery and will put his 14-2-0 MMA record on the line against Whittaker.
Costa had previously been scheduled to face Robert Whittaker at UFC 284 this past February, but the bout was ultimately nixed. The 32-year-old Costa last fought in August 2022, when he scored an unanimous decision win over Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. He then had both of his last two scheduled fights cancelled, as Costa was forced to withdraw from a matchup with Khamzat Chimaev on Oct. 21 at UFC 294 after requiring surgery to treat an infected bursa in his right elbow. Costa has since made a full recovery and will put his 14-2-0 MMA record on the line against Whittaker.
Withdraws from Chimaev fight
Costa will not fight Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 on Oct. 21, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
According to Costa himself, he has a staph infection in his right elbow. He reportedly suffered the infection about two months ago, and it flared up in Abu Dhabi. Costa defeating Chimaev would have boosted the Brazilian middleweight's chances for a championship fight. Instead, Costa may have to sit out until 2024 to fight again.
According to Costa himself, he has a staph infection in his right elbow. He reportedly suffered the infection about two months ago, and it flared up in Abu Dhabi. Costa defeating Chimaev would have boosted the Brazilian middleweight's chances for a championship fight. Instead, Costa may have to sit out until 2024 to fight again.
Next fight booked
Costa is set to face off against Khamzat Chimaev in a middleweight fight at UFC 294 on Oct. 21 in Abu Dhabi, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Costa most recently defeated Luke Rockhold at UFC 278 in an unanimous decision last August. The 32-year-old Brazilian fighter will look to improve upon his 6-2 UFC record come October.
Costa most recently defeated Luke Rockhold at UFC 278 in an unanimous decision last August. The 32-year-old Brazilian fighter will look to improve upon his 6-2 UFC record come October.
Facing Aliskerov
Costa will take on Ikram Aliskerov in a middleweight bout at UFC 291 on July 29 in Salt Lake City, Shaheed Al-Shatti of MMAFighting.com reports Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
Costa picked up his first win since 2019 last August against Luke Rockhold via unanimous decision, and will fight for the first time in about 11 months. His opponent, Ikram Aliskerov, is coming off his first career UFC win by taking care of Phil Hawes in the first round in early-May. Costa will look to right the ship, while Aliskero will look to build on a promising start to his UFC career.
Costa picked up his first win since 2019 last August against Luke Rockhold via unanimous decision, and will fight for the first time in about 11 months. His opponent, Ikram Aliskerov, is coming off his first career UFC win by taking care of Phil Hawes in the first round in early-May. Costa will look to right the ship, while Aliskero will look to build on a promising start to his UFC career.