Paulo Costa's team has released footage showing the Brazilian fighter having significant difficulty making the 93kg middleweight limit ahead of his upcoming bout. The video captures Costa struggling greatly during the weight-cutting process, a notable concern given that he previously competed at 84kg. Costa has also shifted his focus toward Russian opponents, stating he hates Russian fighters and that his current opponent will be the second consecutive Russian on his record. He indicated that after dealing with "this fat guy," Khamzat Chimaev would be his third Russian opponent. The post also mentions other news including Jon Jones claiming retirement and Merab Dvalishvili planning two more fights this year despite a broken nose.
Paulo Costa's team has posted footage online showing the Brazilian middleweight in visible distress during his weight cut ahead of an upcoming fight, raising questions about the 35-year-old's ability to consistently make a 93-kilogram limit.
Costa, ranked thirteenth in the middleweight division with a professional record of 16-4, has built his reputation as one of the sport's most aggressive strikers. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he lands an exceptional 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. The concern in the released video is compounded by the fact that Costa previously campaigned at 84 kilograms, making a nine-kilogram jump to the current limit a meaningful physical challenge.
The video release came alongside commentary from Costa himself, who expressed pointed feelings toward his opponents. He stated he hates Russian fighters and noted that his current foe will be the second consecutive Russian he has faced. He added that after dealing with, in his words, "this fat guy," Khamzat Chimaev would become his third Russian opponent in a row.
Chimaev, the number-one-ranked middleweight and number-ten pound-for-pound fighter on the current rankings, carries a 15-1 record and presents a sharply contrasting profile to Costa. The 32-year-old is one of the division's most complete threats, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute at 60 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Costa's weight-cut difficulties at 93 kg could affect his performance and long-term divisional viability.
- A win over his current Russian opponent would position Costa for a potential clash with the division's top-ranked contender in Chimaev.
- The stylistic contrast between Costa's elite volume striking and Chimaev's elite grappling would make any future matchup between the two a genuine test for both fighters.
