Paulo Costa has stated that he likes fighting Russian fighters, describing them as tough like Brazilians. Costa most recently defeated Roman Kopylov in the octagon. Prior to that, he was scheduled to face both Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev, though neither of those bouts materialized. Costa's comments suggest he welcomes future matchups against Russian competition.
Paulo Costa has gone on record expressing genuine enthusiasm for facing Russian fighters, comparing their toughness to that of his fellow Brazilians and signaling he would welcome more matchups against that competition.
The Brazilian middleweight, nicknamed "The Eraser," carries a 16-4-0 professional record and is currently ranked thirteenth in the division at 35 years old. Fighting out of Team Borracha, Costa is one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His most recent victory came against fellow middleweight Roman Kopylov, a result that added another Russian opponent to his resume.
Kopylov, 34, enters the verified record books at 15-5-0 and sits at number fourteen in the middleweight rankings. The southpaw from Russia fights out of Raty Team, standing six feet tall with a 75-inch reach, and averages 4.59 significant strikes per minute.
Costa's comments also touched on two bouts that never came to fruition — scheduled meetings with both Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev that ultimately fell apart. Chimaev, the number-one-ranked middleweight and a top-ten pound-for-pound fighter, is himself a physically imposing orthodox striker standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. The 32-year-old carries a 15-1-0 record and averages an elite 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the division's most complete threats.
Why it matters
- Costa's stated preference for Russian opponents could shape his next matchup request, with several Russian fighters active in the middleweight division.
- A potential rescheduled bout with Chimaev would pit the thirteenth-ranked Costa against the division's top contender, representing a significant step up in competition.
- The contrasting styles — Costa's volume striking against Chimaev's wrestling-heavy approach — would represent one of the more compelling stylistic clashes available in the middleweight division.
