Paulo Costa stated that he likes fighting against Russian fighters. In his most recent bout, the Brazilian defeated Roman Kopylov. Prior to that fight, he was also scheduled to face Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev in matchups that ultimately did not materialize. Costa's comments suggest he appreciates the challenge that Russian fighters present in the octagon.
Paulo Costa has opened up about his fondness for fighting Russian opponents, expressing that he genuinely enjoys the challenges those matchups bring inside the octagon.
The Brazilian middleweight, ranked 13th in the division at 35 years old, backed up his words with his most recent performance — a victory over fellow middleweight Roman Kopylov. Costa carries a 16-4-0 professional record and trains out of Team Borracha. Standing 185 cm tall with a 183 cm reach, he is one of the more aggressive strikers in the division, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy. The Eraser has built his reputation almost entirely on his striking, averaging just 0.32 takedowns per 15 minutes and recording no submission attempts.
Kopylov, the man Costa most recently put away, is a 34-year-old Russian southpaw sitting at number 14 in the middleweight rankings with a 15-5-0 record. The 183 cm fighter possesses a notably longer 191 cm reach and lands 4.59 significant strikes per minute, though his 50 percent striking accuracy trails Costa's considerably.
Costa also referenced two other Russian-linked matchups that never came to fruition — bouts against Ikram Aliskerov and the number-one ranked middleweight Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev, competing out of the United Arab Emirates, holds a 15-1-0 record and sits 10th in the pound-for-pound rankings at age 32. The wrestler-striker hybrid averages a massive 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 4.04 significant strikes per minute, presenting an entirely different stylistic puzzle compared to Kopylov.
Why it matters
- Costa's win over Kopylov keeps him relevant in a stacked middleweight division
- The collapsed Chimaev and Aliskerov matchups highlight ongoing scheduling difficulties surrounding Costa
- A future booking against any of these opponents could have significant top-15 ranking implications
