Paulo Costa stated that he likes fighting against Russian fighters. The Brazilian most recently defeated Roman Kopylov in his last outing. Costa also mentioned that he had previously been scheduled for fights against Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev, though neither of those matchups came to fruition. The comment suggests Costa's willingness to face fighters from Russia and potentially his respect for their toughness.
Paulo Costa has gone on record saying he genuinely enjoys competing against Russian fighters, a comment that sheds light on the Brazilian middleweight's mindset heading into the next chapter of his career.
Costa, known as "The Eraser," holds a 16-4 record and sits ranked 13th in the middleweight division at 35 years old. The six-foot-one Brazilian trains out of Team Borracha and brings one of the most aggressive striking profiles in the division, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His most recent performance backed up his words — he defeated fellow middleweight Roman Kopylov in his last outing.
Kopylov, a 34-year-old Russian southpaw ranked 14th at middleweight, carries a 15-5 record and lands 4.59 significant strikes per minute. The six-foot fighter out of Raty Team proved a credible test, and Costa's win over him adds weight to his stated comfort level against Russian opposition.
Costa also noted that bouts against Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev had been in the works at various points, though neither fight was ultimately made. Chimaev, currently ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings, represents the division's most dangerous grappling threat, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts in the same span. The 32-year-old carries a 15-1 record and fights out of Allstars Training Center.
Why it matters
- Costa's win over Kopylov and his stated appetite for Russian opponents could position him for further matchups in that pool
- A fight with Aliskerov or a rescheduled Chimaev bout would carry serious ranking implications for the 13th-ranked Costa
- Stylistically, Costa's high-volume striking against the grappling-heavy Chimaev would represent one of the division's most compelling style contrasts
