Paulo Costa stated that he likes fighting against Russian fighters. In his most recent bout, the Brazilian defeated Roman Kopylov. Prior to that, Costa had fights scheduled against Russian fighters Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev, both of which ultimately did not take place. The post provides limited additional context about Costa's reasoning for this preference.
Paulo Costa has made no secret of his fondness for facing Russian opposition, with the Brazilian middleweight stating publicly that he genuinely enjoys fighting fighters from Russia.
Costa, known as "The Eraser," enters this conversation riding the momentum of a victory over Roman Kopylov. The 35-year-old from Brazil carries a 16-4-0 professional record and sits ranked 13th in the UFC middleweight division. Fighting out of Team Borracha, Costa is one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, landing an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that place him among the division's most dangerous stand-up fighters.
His most recent opponent, Kopylov, is a fellow middleweight who holds a 15-5-0 record and sits just one spot below Costa at number 14 in the divisional rankings. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw, who fights out of Raty Team, lands 4.59 significant strikes per minute and carries a 75-inch reach, making him a credible and dangerous stylistic test.
The Russian connection does not stop with Kopylov. Costa also had bouts scheduled against Ikram Aliskerov and top-ranked contender Khamzat Chimaev, neither of which came to fruition. Chimaev, currently ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, is among the most complete fighters in the world, combining a 60 percent striking accuracy with an extraordinary 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes on a 15-1-0 record.
Why it matters
- Costa's preference for Russian opponents has already shaped his recent fight calendar in meaningful ways
- A future booking against Chimaev would pit the 13th-ranked Costa against the division's top contender, a significant step up in competition
- The stylistic contrast is stark — Costa's high-volume striking against Chimaev's elite wrestling and grappling would present a compelling matchup
