Paulo Costa has stated that he likes fighting Russian fighters, describing them as tough like Brazilians. The Brazilian middleweight most recently defeated Roman Kopylov in his last bout. Prior to that fight, Costa was also scheduled to face Russian fighters Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev, though both of those bouts ultimately fell through. Costa's comments suggest he views Russian opponents as worthy challenges that bring out his competitive spirit.
