Paulo Costa stated that he likes fighting competitors from Russia. In his last bout, the Brazilian defeated Roman Kopylov. Prior to that, Costa had fights scheduled against Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev, though neither of those matchups materialized. Costa's comments suggest he appreciates the challenge that Russian fighters bring to the octagon.
Paulo Costa has gone on record saying he genuinely enjoys competing against Russian fighters, a sentiment backed up by his recent history inside the octagon.
The Brazilian middleweight, nicknamed "The Eraser," sits at number 13 in the divisional rankings with a professional record of 16-4-0. Costa is 35 years old and trains out of Team Borracha, bringing an aggressive orthodox striking game that produces an impressive 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His most recent outing ended in a win over fellow middleweight Roman Kopylov, adding another Russian opponent to his resume.
Kopylov, 34, represents Russia and competes as a southpaw at middleweight, where he is currently ranked 14th with a record of 15-5-0. Standing six feet tall with a 75-inch reach, he averages 4.59 significant strikes per minute, though his 50 percent striking accuracy left him on the wrong end of the exchange against Costa.
Costa also had bouts lined up against two other fighters with Russian roots. A matchup with Khamzat Chimaev, the number-one-ranked middleweight and top-ten pound-for-pound contender, was among the fights that never came to fruition, as was a scheduled contest against Ikram Aliskerov. Neither of those matchups materialized for undisclosed reasons.
Chimaev, 32, carries a 15-1-0 record and competes out of Allstars Training Center under the UAE flag. His game is built around elite wrestling, averaging 5.29 takedown attempts per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts, making him a stylistically distinct challenge compared to the more striking-oriented Kopylov.
Why it matters
- Costa's comments signal he is open to, and perhaps actively seeking, matchups against Russian middleweights as he works back toward the top of the division.
- With Chimaev sitting at number one and Costa at 13, a future booking would carry significant ranking implications for both men.
- The style contrast is notable: Costa's high-volume striking versus the wrestling-heavy approach Chimaev brings would be one of the more compelling matchups the division could produce.
