Video footage from Paulo Costa's team shows him experiencing extreme difficulty making 93 kilograms for his upcoming bout. The footage reveals Costa struggling significantly with the weight cut. This represents a major challenge as he previously competed at 84 kilograms. Costa has been vocal about his intentions to face Russian opponents, stating he will defeat his current heavyweight opponent before potentially facing Khamzat Chimaev. The dramatic weight fluctuation raises questions about Costa's ability to safely compete at middleweight after previously fighting at a much lower weight class.
Video footage shared by Paulo Costa's team has raised serious concerns about the Brazilian middleweight's ability to make the 93-kilogram limit for his upcoming fight, with the clips showing the 35-year-old in visible distress during his weight cut.
Costa, who competes out of Team Borracha, holds a professional record of 16 wins and 4 losses and currently sits ranked thirteenth in the UFC middleweight division. The footage is particularly striking given that Costa previously competed at 84 kilograms, meaning the nine-kilogram gap between his former weight class and the current target is proving far from straightforward. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, Costa is known for his aggressive striking output, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — a style that demands peak physical condition to execute.
In statements referenced by his team, Costa has framed his current opponent as a stepping stone, expressing a desire to eventually face Khamzat Chimaev. The unbeaten Chimaev, nicknamed Borz, carries a 15-1 record and is ranked first in the middleweight division, also sitting tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 32-year-old, who represents the United Arab Emirates and trains out of Allstars Training Center, is a well-rounded threat averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same span.
Why it matters
- Costa's struggle to reach 93 kg — nine kilograms above his former 84 kg competition weight — raises legitimate health and performance concerns.
- His divisional ranking of thirteenth means a strong showing is necessary to climb toward contention in a stacked middleweight division.
- A potential future matchup with the top-ranked Chimaev would represent one of the division's most significant bouts, but Costa must first prove he can compete safely at the weight.
