Donald Trump once again publicly congratulated Paulo Costa on his victory in Miami via social media. Trump stated that Costa will definitely become a future UFC champion and mentioned having a conversation with him outside the ring after his big win. The post from the channel suggests that Costa may have a shot at the light heavyweight belt. This marks continued public support from the former U.S. president for the Brazilian middleweight who recently moved up in weight.
Donald Trump took to social media to congratulate Paulo Costa following the Brazilian fighter's victory in Miami, publicly predicting that Costa is destined to become a UFC champion.
Trump indicated he spoke with Costa outside the ring after the win and expressed strong confidence in the fighter's championship prospects. The post also hinted that Costa may have positioned himself for a shot at the light heavyweight title, a notable development given the Brazilian's recent decision to move up from middleweight.
Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," carries a professional record of 16 wins and 4 losses and is currently ranked 13th in the middleweight division. The 35-year-old from Brazil trains out of Team Borracha and stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach. A devastating pressure striker, Costa lands an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the more feared punchers in his weight class. His ground-game output is minimal, averaging just 0.32 takedowns per 15 minutes and recording no submission attempts.
Why it matters
- Costa's win in Miami, combined with Trump's public endorsement, keeps his name in the championship conversation heading into a potential divisional crossroads.
- A move to light heavyweight, suggested in Trump's post, would place Costa in an entirely new rankings landscape with fresh title opportunities.
- His elite striking volume and accuracy make him a dangerous contender at either weight class, and high-profile attention from a prominent public figure adds outside pressure on the UFC to act on his next booking.
