Paulo Costa is having significant difficulty making 93 kilograms, according to video from his team, despite previously competing at 84 kg. Costa has changed his tune on Russian fighters, stating he hates them and that Azamat Murzakanov will be his second consecutive Russian opponent, with Khamzat Chimaev potentially being third. In other news, Johnny Walker gave Jiri Prochazka a surprise gift related to his upcoming daughter. Jon Jones declared he has hung up his gloves and is now only a businessman. Josh Hockit apologized to his team immediately after a promotional appearance, breaking character to say sorry for his antics. Merab Dvalishvili plans to fight twice more this year despite a broken nose.
Paulo Costa is making noise on multiple fronts, posting video from his team that shows him struggling to reach 93 kilograms ahead of a planned light heavyweight appearance — a notable challenge given that the Brazilian has spent the bulk of his career competing at 84 kilograms.
Costa, 35, holds a 16-4 record and is currently ranked 13th in the middleweight division. Known as "The Eraser," the six-foot-one Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the more prolific strikers in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. The weight-gain difficulty he is now publicly documenting suggests the move up in weight is not going smoothly.
Beyond the scale troubles, Costa has been vocal about his upcoming opposition. He stated he has developed a strong dislike for Russian fighters and identified Azamat Murzakanov as his next opponent, which would mark his second consecutive matchup against a Russian. He also suggested Khamzat Chimaev could follow as a third.
Elsewhere in the news, Johnny Walker presented Jiri Prochazka with a surprise gift connected to the Czech fighter's upcoming daughter. Prochazka, 33, carries a 32-6-1 record and sits ranked second in the light heavyweight division, bringing a 203-centimeter reach and a striking rate of 5.69 significant strikes per minute into every outing.
Jon Jones, 38, declared he has retired from competition and now considers himself solely a businessman. Jones owns a 28-1 record and a 213-centimeter reach, and has long been regarded as one of the most complete fighters in the sport's history.
Why it matters
- Costa's weight difficulties raise real questions about whether a sustained move to light heavyweight is viable for him.
- His call-outs of Murzakanov and Chimaev set up a potential run through a specific tier of ranked light heavyweight contenders.
- Jones confirming his gloves are hung up leaves a significant vacancy at the top of the heavyweight landscape.
