Paulo Costa issued an apology to Russian fans for comments made at a press conference where he expressed negative sentiments. Costa clarified that his animosity is directed specifically at Khamzat Chimaev, whom he referred to as Chechen rather than broadly Russian. He acknowledged regretting his initial wording and emphasized that he respects Russian people, stating he knows some Russians living in Germany. Costa also mentioned that Chimaev would be the second Russian opponent he has defeated, expressing hope for a potential third fight against Chimaev specifically.
Paulo Costa has issued a public apology to Russian fans following remarks he made at a recent press conference, while making clear that his hostility is aimed solely at Khamzat Chimaev rather than Russian people as a whole.
The Brazilian middleweight, ranked thirteenth in his division at 35 years old, acknowledged regretting how he initially phrased his comments. Costa clarified that Chimaev is Chechen, not Russian, and emphasized his respect for Russian people, noting that he personally knows Russians living in Germany. Carrying a professional record of 16-4, Costa is one of the more aggressive strikers in the 185-pound division, landing an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Costa also pointed to what he described as a pattern, stating that Chimaev would be the second Russian opponent he has defeated and expressing hope for a potential third fight against him specifically.
Standing across from Costa in any hypothetical matchup would be a considerably more decorated opponent. Chimaev, 32, holds a record of 15-1 and sits at number one in the middleweight rankings, also appearing at number ten on the pound-for-pound list. Fighting out of Allstars Training Center and representing the United Arab Emirates, the six-foot-two Borz brings a suffocating wrestling-based game to go with his striking, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.8 submission attempts in the same span.
Why it matters
- Costa's comments keep pressure on a potential middleweight matchup with the division's top-ranked contender
- A win over Chimaev would dramatically reshape Costa's standing after falling to number 13 in the rankings
- The stylistic contrast is sharp: Costa's volume striking meets Chimaev's elite takedown and submission output
