Paulo Costa says he enjoys fighting Russian opponents

Paulo Costa stated that he likes fighting Russian fighters, describing them as tough like Brazilians. In his most recent bout, Costa defeated Roman Kopylov. He was also previously scheduled to fight Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev, though those matchups never materialized. The comments suggest Costa has developed a respect for the fighting style and toughness of Russian competitors through his experiences and scheduled matchups.