Paulo Costa To Resurrect Khamzat Chimaev Rivalry, Will Call Him Out After UFC 318 Win

After his rough skids, UFC 185-pounder Paulo Costa explained his loathing of Khamzat Chimaev and has planned a bold callout after UFC 318 PPV.

Paulo Costa To Resurrect Khamzat Chimaev Rivalry, Will Call Him Out After UFC 318 Win

Paulo Costa set on that Khamzat Chimaev fight after UFC 318 PPV (Source: X)

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Paulo Costa hasn’t overlooked his potential rivalry with Khamzat Chimaev. The sequence of events began in September 2022. While still a competition 170-pounder, Chimaev encountered Costa and had an altercation with him at the UFC PI (Las Vegas). The two had to be separated by UFC security personnel to prevent a full-on fight.

Khamzat Chimaev overclocked his hydration limit on the scales before his supposed link-up with Nate Diaz; it thus forced him to the middleweight class. It pitted the two against each other, and the duo started passive online banters. A PPV booking for a grudge match was all but sure, and UFC 294 at the Etihad Arena came to be as the slated place.

However, Paulo Costa incurred a nasty elbow infection and had to undergo yet another subsequent surgery, which deemed him unfit to make weight in time. ‘Borrachinha’ will return this weekend for the UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 PPV lineup in New Orleans. Should he get the ‘W’, he has planned to use his mic time to call out the rival once again.

If God gives me this victory, I will call his name, …I’m gonna call this son of a bit*h, motherfuc*er for a fight — He needs to fight me. I need to fight him. I have tried to fight him for a long time, since we had a beef in the PI. He has been avoiding fighting me for a long time. He always say no, and UFC has tried to put this match up for a long time, like two years ago … Chimaev say no, he wants to fight anybody at 185…

Paulo Costa on “The Ariel Helwani Show” for ‘Uncrowned’ Combat

Costa’s bold callout vow is multi-faceted. The ‘Borz’ has thrice been projected to have UFC top seed treatment (twice at 185-pounds). Khamzat Chimaev is already holding camp stateside, and soon will be fighting for the title at the UFC 319 PPV live event, United Center in Chicago, Illinois, August. So, to make the fight and reinsert their beef would be a logical step forward for the No.13-ranking middleweight.

On the other facet of it, there is the fact that Chimaev texted Tamara Alves, Costa’s girlfriend and fight rep. So, the grudge part of it is as real as it gets; Team Allstars Training Center’s Chimaev confirmed as much later. Hopefully, it wasn’t a crass DM like this or a case of mistaken identity.

[Also] He sent a message for my girl, Tamara…He acted like a woman. He tricked her, he said some bad sh*t [also] — He said something like, ‘I’m going to beat your husband and I’m going to do bad things,’ this, that.

Paulo Costa further said

Costa has lost two fights after that to former champs Sean Strickland and Robert Whittaker. Whereas, ‘Borz’ decisioned replacement Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 and got his top contender spot with a R1 face-crank over Whittaker. If Chimaev comes up short in his UFC 319 PPV title bid, this matchup could surely fall into place.

Paulo Costa had ‘some beef’ with the UFC bossman as well

Paulo Costa’s career in the UFC has been marked by highs and lows, and his relationship with UFC CEO Dana White has undergone changes over time. While he started 5-0 and was close to the exclusive contenders club of going undefeated, it did not take.

Paulo Costa has had contentious running with the boss after 2020
Paulo Costa has had contentious running with the boss after 2020 (Source: X)

In anticipation of his imminent Louisiana return this week, Costa elucidated the reasons for his initial dislike of White. This was at the beginning of his competition tenure as 185-pounder; specifically bolstered by what was tagged as his ‘worst’ performance at UFC 253.

I support Dana White, right now. [But] Back in the day I wasn’t… Back in the day we had some beef, not that he really did bad things to me, [but] I was a little bit sad and mad. The first six fights on my contract were horrible, I was getting paid unfairly.

Paulo Costa again said on his relation with the boss

Like many others, Paulo Costa iterated that his first-step 6-fight signing contract was very meager at $10,000 base earnings, and the leash on him tightened. There were substantial reasons for that, though.

After five outings, at UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa in 2020, he was granted his first headlining spot and middleweight title shot but came short. To top it off, he told ESPN MMA scrum that he had a whole bottle of wine the night before, which ruined his chances. It automatically created some friction between UFC’s top execs, White, and the fighter himself.

However, the Team Borracha striker could help resolve it all this UFC 318. After back-to-back losses, he meets Roman Kopylov and aspires to enter the title picture again.

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