Paulo Costa is on the move. Fresh off a tough fight against Robert Whittaker, he’s not sitting back. Despite a unanimous decision loss, Costa’s performance was noteworthy. He had been out of the game for a year and a half before facing the former middleweight champ at UFC 298 on Feb. 17. Instead of mulling over his defeat, Costa’s already eyeing his next opponent. He’s called out Kamaru Usman.
Usman, the former welterweight king, stepped up to middleweight last October. He filled in for Costa at UFC 294 for a bout against Khamzat Chimaev. Costa had to bow out due to elbow surgery recovery. Usman’s middleweight debut ended in a close majority decision loss. But to Costa, that loss is a non-factor.
In a recent chat with Submission Radio, Costa laid it out. “He comes from loss, I come from loss,” he said. Both fighters are hungry for a win. Costa believes Usman has conquered the welterweight division. Now, it’s time for a new challenge. At 36 or 37, Usman’s clock is ticking. His middleweight stint against Chimaev was a quick pivot, not a full transition. Costa sees a match-up with Usman as logical. It’s a clash of styles and strengths that could propel the victor back to the top.
Costa’s beef with Chimaev is well-documented. They were meant to clash at UFC 294, but Costa had to withdraw. Since then, Costa has accused Chimaev of dodging the fight. “He needs to stop running,” Costa insists. He accuses Chimaev of seeking easier fights, avoiding opponents with a solid wrestling or jiu-jitsu background.
Meanwhile, both Costa and Usman are trying to rebound. Usman’s faced three consecutive losses, while Costa has lost three of his last four. His only recent victory was against Luke Rockhold in August 2022. The path forward for both fighters is fraught with challenges, but a bout between them could change everything.