Paulo Costa has shared details of a brief exchange he had with U.S. President Donald Trump following his recent fight. Costa recounted Trump's comment and responded humorously by asking for "a better job, an easier job." He clarified that their conversation was not about the fight itself but was personal in nature, involving mutual friends and connections. Costa, a Brazilian, mentioned they also discussed the current situation in Brazil, as things are "not very good" there at the moment.
Paulo Costa has revealed details of a brief personal exchange he had with U.S. President Donald Trump following his most recent fight, describing a lighthearted moment that touched on both humor and geopolitics.
Costa, the 35-year-old Brazilian middleweight, recounted how Trump made a comment to him after the bout. Rather than discussing the fight directly, Costa said he responded by jokingly asking Trump for "a better job, an easier job." The conversation, Costa clarified, was personal in nature and involved mutual friends and connections shared between the two men.
The ranked number-13 middleweight at 185 pounds also noted that he and Trump discussed the current situation in Brazil, with Costa describing conditions back home as "not very good" at the moment. It was a notably candid aside from a fighter who carries a 16-4-0 professional record and has long been one of the more colorful personalities in the UFC's middleweight division.
Costa, who competes out of Team Borracha and stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, is one of the most active strikers in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Despite fighting out of an orthodox stance, he has built his reputation almost entirely on his striking, averaging just 0.32 takedowns per 15 minutes and recording no submission attempts.
Why it matters
- Costa's public profile continues to extend well beyond the cage, keeping him visible between fights
- The exchange highlights the crossover between combat sports and political circles in the current media landscape
- Costa's comments about Brazil add a personal dimension to a fighter who remains one of the division's more outspoken voices
