Jun 1, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Sean Strickland (red gloves) fights Paulo Costa (blue gloves) during UFC 302 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

mma

Paulo Costa Responds To Potential Match vs Khamzat Chimaev At UFC 317

Paulo Costa sets his sights on the boogeyman of the middleweight division!

Jun 1, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Sean Strickland (red gloves) fights Paulo Costa (blue gloves) during UFC 302 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The UFC middleweight division has been a wild rollercoaster lately. Fighters come and go, but few have captured attention quite like Paulo Costa. The Brazilian powerhouse burst onto the scene with his incredible physique and knockout power. His journey through the UFC featured highlight-reel finishes and a unique personality that fans couldn’t ignore. Costa became famous not just for his fighting skills but also for his social media antics and unconventional training methods.

After a rough patch following his title loss, Costa has been working to climb back up the rankings. Though injuries and cancellations plagued his schedule, Costa never lost his appeal as one of the division’s most intriguing characters. He came up short in his fight with Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland. Now, it seems Costa might get thrown into another high-profile matchup as UFC scrambles to save one of their biggest cards of the year.

Also Read: Dricus Du Plessis Injury Update – Has Dricus Du Plessis Pulled Out of Potential UFC 317 Title Fight vs. Khamzat Chimaev?

Paulo Costa Ready For Khamzat Chimaev

Costa’s name has suddenly entered the conversation for UFC 317. Reports suggest champion Dricus Du Plessis might be injured and unable to defend against Khamzat Chimaev as planned. This created an immediate problem for the UFC’s summer showcase event. Few fighters stir up excitement like the undefeated Chimaev, and fewer still would step up to face such a dangerous opponent on relatively short notice.

Costa recently responded about fans asking him an update about him fighting Khamzat Chimaev. He revealed he already accepted another fight for the International Fight Week period. This suggests the UFC had different plans for Costa before the Du Plessis situation developed. However, in typical Costa fashion, he didn’t close the door completely. He stated he would still fight Chimaev if that’s what the UFC wants.

“Peoples sending me Dricus vs. Chimaev cancellations, f**k them both. I have signed a fight for IFW already. BTW Chechen is gay everyone knows he is scared of me but i will be there anyway. if UFC wants this fight to finally happen, Im 100% in”

Paulo Costa shares his thoughts on having his name in the mix and calls out Khamzat Chimaev for #UFC317 🔥💥#UFC pic.twitter.com/65NuDegqBi
— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) April 20, 2025

This flexibility shows Costa’s confidence remains intact despite his recent record. Taking on Chimaev would be no small task for anyone in the division. The Chechen fighter demolished everyone put in front of him, including a very impressive win over former champion Robert Whittaker. Chimaev’s grappling skills have proven nearly impossible to counter, with most opponents finding themselves on their back within seconds.

A potential Costa-Chimaev matchup would present an interesting style clash. Costa brings devastating power, while Chimaev relies on overwhelming wrestling and ground control. For Costa, it represents a chance to derail one of the UFC’s fastest-rising stars and potentially jump back into title contention. For fans, it would deliver one of the most anticipated middleweight bouts outside of a championship fight!

(Image Credit: Joe Camporeale – Imagn Images)

Dricus Du Plessis

Khamzat Chimaev

Paulo Costa

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!