Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Paulo Costa gestures toward Robert Whittaker during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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Paulo Costa Sets His Sights On #1 Ranked Middleweight, Despite Not Being In The Top 10

Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Paulo Costa gestures toward Robert Whittaker during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Paulo Costa has never been shy about speaking his mind or throwing heavy hands inside the octagon. The Brazilian powerhouse built his reputation on explosive knockouts and an aggressive style that left opponents wondering what hit them. His wars with Yoel Romero and Israel Adesanya showed the world that ‘Borrachinha’ could hang with elite competition, even when the results didn’t always go his way. But recent struggles had people questioning whether Costa still belonged among the middleweight division’s best fighters. Inconsistent performances and weight issues made some fans wonder if his best days were behind him.

That doubt started disappearing when Costa stepped into the cage against Roman Koplyov recently. The Brazilian looked sharp, focused, and hungry. His dominant performance opened doors that had been closed for months, putting him back in conversations about top-five matchups and potential title eliminators. Now Costa wants to strike while the iron is hot, and he’s set his sights on former champion Dricus Du Plessis for what could be a career defining fight before 2025 ends.

Why Dricus Du Plessis Makes Perfect Sense

The #13 ranked Costa knows opportunity when he sees it. He is targeting #1 ranked Dricus Du Plessis, who recently lost his middleweight title o Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. But he remains one of the most dangerous fighters in the division. A win over someone of Du Plessis’s caliber would immediately thrust Costa back into title contention and erase any lingering doubts about his ability to compete at the highest level. Talking to Submission Radio, this is what he said:

“I will fight this year. I still have one more fight in 2025, before Christmas. Dricus is fresh from the belt. He’s such an unpredictable, tough guy to face. That would be a great fight. A huge fight”.

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The stylistic matchup between these two would create fireworks from the opening bell. Costa brings power in his hands and an aggressive pressure style that has flattened multiple opponents. Du Plessis counters with his own knockout ability plus the kind of unpredictable movement and timing that made him champion in the first place. Both men love to engage in violent exchanges, which means fans would get their money’s worth regardless of who wins. Costa probably sees this as the perfect opportunity to prove he still belongs in the title picture while taking out a former champion who many consider still elite.

Costa’s urgency makes sense when fans consider how quickly things can change in the UFC. New contenders emerge constantly, and former champions can find themselves forgotten if they stay inactive too long. Costa seems determined not to let that happen to his career. A victory over du Plessis would put Costa in an excellent position for a title shot, assuming the timing works out correctly.

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images)

Dricus Du Plessis

Paulo Costa

UFC 319

Zaid Quraishi

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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!