Paulo Costa stated he likes fighting against Russian fighters. In his last fight, the Brazilian defeated Roman Kopylov. Costa was also previously scheduled to face Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev in bouts that ultimately did not take place. The fighter appears to have a pattern of matchups with Russian opponents. Costa expressed his appreciation for the toughness of Russian fighters.
Paulo Costa has gone on record to say he genuinely enjoys fighting Russian opponents, pointing to a pattern of matchups against fighters from that country that has defined a stretch of his middleweight career.
The Brazilian, known as "The Eraser," carries a 16-4-0 record and currently sits ranked thirteenth in the UFC middleweight division. At 35 years old and fighting out of Team Borracha, Costa brings one of the most aggressive striking profiles in the weight class, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His most recent performance backed up his words, as he defeated fellow middleweight contender Roman Kopylov.
Kopylov, a 34-year-old southpaw from Russia, entered that fight at 15-5-0 and ranked fourteenth in the division. The six-foot fighter carries a 75-inch reach and lands 4.59 significant strikes per minute, making him a credible test for any contender on the roster.
Costa's connection to Russian opposition does not stop with Kopylov. He was previously scheduled to meet Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev, neither of which came to fruition. Chimaev, the number-one ranked middleweight and tenth-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, represents perhaps the most formidable matchup Costa has been linked to. The 32-year-old fighting out of the UAE averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and holds a 15-1-0 record, making him a dominant presence at the top of the division.
Why it matters
- Costa's wins and near-misses against Russian fighters have shaped his recent trajectory in the middleweight rankings
- A fully realized bout with Chimaev would pit the thirteenth-ranked Costa against the division's top contender, carrying significant ranking implications
- The stylistic contrast is stark: Costa's high-volume striking versus Chimaev's elite wrestling and takedown output
