Paulo Costa stated that he enjoys fighting against Russian fighters. In his most recent bout, the Brazilian defeated Roman Kopylov. Costa also had fights scheduled against Russian fighters Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev that ultimately did not materialize. The comments suggest Costa has developed a preference or appreciation for matching up against Russian competition. His track record includes both completed and cancelled bouts with fighters from Russia.
Paulo Costa has made clear he has a taste for fighting Russian opponents, with the Brazilian middleweight stating publicly that he enjoys matching up against fighters from that country.
Costa, 35, carries a 16-4-0 record and currently sits ranked 13th in the UFC middleweight division. Fighting out of Team Borracha, the Brazilian known as "The Eraser" is one of the more prolific volume strikers in the weight class, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His most recent outing resulted in a victory over fellow middleweight Roman Kopylov, extending his experience against Russian competition.
Kopylov, a 34-year-old southpaw from Russia, holds a 15-5-0 record and sits one spot below Costa at 14th in the middleweight rankings. He stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach and averages 4.59 significant strikes per minute. The loss to Costa adds to a résumé that has seen Kopylov mix striking with a modest takedown threat at 1.14 per 15 minutes.
Costa's comments also reference two matchups against Russian fighters that were scheduled but never took place. One was against Ikram Aliskerov, and the other was against Khamzat Chimaev, the division's top-ranked middleweight. Chimaev, 32, is 15-1-0 and fights out of Allstars Training Center, combining a 60 percent striking accuracy with an elite grappling game that produces 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts in the same window.
Why it matters
- Costa's win over Kopylov keeps him relevant inside the top 15 at middleweight
- The two cancelled bouts with Russian fighters represent missed high-profile opportunities on both sides
- A future matchup with Chimaev would pit Costa's high-volume striking against one of the division's most complete skill sets
