Paulo Costa says he enjoys fighting Russian opponents

Paulo Costa has stated that he likes fighting opponents from Russia. In his most recent bout, the Brazilian defeated Roman Kopylov. Prior to that fight, Costa had bouts scheduled against Russian fighters Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev, though both of those matchups ultimately fell through and never took place. Costa's comments suggest he appreciates the toughness and challenge that Russian fighters bring to the octagon.