Paulo Costa reveals conversation with Donald Trump after his fight

Paulo Costa has opened up about an unexpected personal exchange with US President Donald Trump that took place following his most recent fight, revealing a conversation that touched on both humor and serious matters.

Costa, the Brazilian middleweight ranked 13th in the UFC's 185-pound division, shared that when Trump addressed him after the bout, he responded with a joke, asking the president for a better and easier job. The 35-year-old fighter, who carries a professional record of 16-4, made clear that the conversation did not touch on the fight itself, describing the exchange as personal in nature.

The Team Borracha product noted that he and Trump share mutual friends and connections, which helped set the tone for the interaction. Costa also mentioned that the two discussed the ongoing difficult situation in Brazil, a topic that held particular personal weight for him as a Brazilian national.

Why it matters

• Costa is one of the more prominent Brazilian athletes in the middleweight division, giving the exchange a degree of cultural and political visibility
• The fighter clarified the personal nature of the conversation, keeping the focus away from combat sports and toward broader topics
• At 35, with a 16-4 record and a reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the division — averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy — Costa remains a recognizable figure well beyond the octagon

Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, Costa has built his profile as one of middleweight's most aggressive strikers over the course of his career. His willingness to share the details of the Trump interaction, however brief, reflects the kind of public profile that follows fighters who compete at the top of a major division for an extended period.