Trump congratulates Paulo Costa, predicts he will become UFC champion

United States President Donald Trump took to social media to publicly congratulate Paulo Costa following his recent victory in Miami, declaring that the Brazilian slugger is destined to become a UFC champion and revealing that the two spoke in person after the fight.

Trump praised Costa's performance and expressed strong confidence in his championship potential, also inviting fans to share their views on his chances of capturing a light heavyweight title.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," enters this wave of high-profile attention carrying a 16-4-0 professional record. The 35-year-old Brazilian currently competes at middleweight, where he sits ranked thirteenth in the division, fighting out of Team Borracha. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, Costa is one of the more physically imposing fighters in the weight class. His offensive output is striking — he lands an exceptional 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the more relentless pressure fighters on the roster. His grappling output is minimal, with just 0.32 takedown attempts per 15 minutes and no submission attempts to speak of, underscoring his identity as a pure standup finisher.

Why it matters

• Trump's public endorsement brings significant mainstream attention to Costa at a moment when he appears to be building momentum
• Costa is currently ranked thirteenth at middleweight, meaning a division jump to light heavyweight would reset his standings and open a new title path
• His elite striking volume and finishing ability would translate as a natural selling point in the 205-pound division, where power is at a premium