Paulo Costa’s Victory at UFC 318
Paulo Costa marked an important win at UFC 318, managing to overcome Roman Kopylov in New Orleans last Saturday. This unanimous decision victory ended a two-fight losing streak for Costa, who had previously fought just twice in the last year and a half.
Desire to Face Khamzat Chimaev
The 34-year-old Brazilian has expressed a continued desire to face Khamzat Chimaev, whom he was scheduled to fight last October before an unfortunate staph infection on his elbow required surgery. This led to former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman stepping in on short notice but ultimately losing to Chimaev by majority decision.
Heated Exchanges and Rivalry
In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Costa revealed some heated exchanges between his girlfriend, Tamara, and Chimaev, who reportedly insulted him with derogatory messages about his character. Costa recounted that Chimaev’s remarks included taunts regarding his relationship, leading Tamara to firmly respond that such comments were disrespectful and uncalled for, emphasizing that the conflict was purely between the two fighters.
Costa didn’t mince words when expressing his feelings towards Chimaev, stating, “I hate this motherf***er. I want to fight him. I want to take everything he has.”
Future Plans and Predictions
Looking ahead, Costa plans to attend UFC 319 on August 16, where Chimaev is set to challenge Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight championship. Costa has voiced skepticism about Chimaev’s chances, predicting that he will tire as the fight progresses, a strategy he believes will also work in his favor if they meet in the octagon.
Costa described himself as a difficult matchup for Chimaev, citing his strength and ability to withstand takedowns. He drew parallels between himself and du Plessis, suggesting that they both possess fighting styles that could overwhelm Chimaev. He accused Chimaev of immaturity in his fighting style, saying,
“He cannot compose himself and keep his base because he’s emotional. He acts like a kid.”
Regaining Confidence
After his victory against Kopylov, Costa is still on a journey to regain his confidence level. Reflecting on his previous record where he finished nearly all his opponents before losing to Israel Adesanya for the title in 2020, he acknowledged that he needs more fights to regain his full self-assurance.
“I need one more, two more, to get 100% of my confidence back,”
he stated, noting moments in the Kopylov fight when he hesitated to seize opportunities.
As Costa continues on his path back to form, he remains focused on matching up against Chimaev, fully motivated by their intense rivalry.
