Paulo Costa disclosed what President Donald Trump said to him following his recent bout, though the specific content of Trump's initial comment is not detailed in the post. Costa responded to Trump by jokingly saying "Then give me a better job, haha, an easier job." He clarified that they did not discuss the fight itself, describing their conversation as personal in nature. Costa mentioned they have mutual friends and connections, and discussed the current difficult situation in Brazil rather than MMA-related topics. The brief exchange highlights Costa's lighthearted interaction with the president at the event.
Paulo Costa has revealed details of a brief personal conversation he had with President Donald Trump following his most recent fight, describing the exchange as lighthearted and largely unrelated to MMA.
The Brazilian middleweight disclosed that Trump made a comment to him after the bout, to which Costa responded with a joke — asking the president to give him "a better job, an easier job." Costa clarified that the two did not discuss the fight itself, characterizing the conversation as personal in nature. He noted they share mutual friends and connections, and that the discussion turned toward the current situation in Brazil rather than anything related to combat sports.
Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," is a 35-year-old middleweight from Brazil who currently holds the number 13 ranking in his division. He carries a professional record of 16 wins and 4 losses and trains out of Team Borracha. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he is one of the more physically imposing fighters in the 185-pound class. Costa is known for his aggressive striking output, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that place him among the higher-volume punchers in the middleweight division.
Why it matters
- Costa's post-fight access to the president underscores his public profile beyond the cage
- The conversation touching on Brazil's current situation rather than MMA reflects the broader context Costa operates in as one of his country's most recognizable fighters
- The lighthearted tone of the exchange, including Costa's self-deprecating joke about finding easier work, fits his well-established personality on social media
