Paulo Costa stated that he likes competing against fighters from Russia. The Brazilian most recently defeated Roman Kopylov in the octagon. Prior to that, Costa had fights scheduled against Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev, though both of those bouts ultimately fell through and never materialized. Costa's comments suggest he has respect for the toughness and challenge that Russian opponents bring.
Paulo Costa has made clear that he has a particular appreciation for facing Russian opposition, with the Brazilian middleweight stating publicly that he enjoys competing against fighters from Russia.
Costa, known as "The Eraser," carries a 16-4-0 record and is currently ranked thirteenth in the UFC middleweight division. The 35-year-old orthodox striker out of Brazil is one of the more aggressive volume punchers in the weight class, landing an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His most recent outing saw him earn a victory over fellow middleweight Roman Kopylov.
Kopylov, ranked fourteenth at middleweight, enters his record at 15-5-0. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw fights out of Raty Team and stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach. He lands 4.59 significant strikes per minute, though his 50 percent striking accuracy left him at a disadvantage against the sharper Costa.
The Russian connection extends beyond Kopylov for Costa. He had bouts scheduled against both Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev before those matchups fell apart without ever being contested. Chimaev, the number-one-ranked middleweight and number ten on the pound-for-pound list, holds a 15-1-0 record and is one of the division's most dangerous fighters, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 60 percent striking accuracy.
Why it matters
- Costa's comments reinforce his interest in high-profile Russian opponents, keeping potential rematches or new matchups in the conversation
- A future booking against Chimaev would carry significant divisional weight, with Costa ranked thirteenth and Chimaev sitting at number one
- The style contrast between Costa's volume striking and Chimaev's elite grappling would present one of the division's most compelling matchups on paper
