Former U.S. President Donald Trump has again congratulated Paulo Costa on his victory and declared that the Brazilian will become a future UFC champion. Trump posted on social media about Costa's performance in Miami, stating it was great to speak with him outside the ring after his big win. The 45th president specifically predicted Costa will become a champion, though he did not specify which weight class. Costa recently moved up to light heavyweight where he secured an impressive victory. Trump's public endorsement adds to the buzz surrounding Costa's resurgence in his new division.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media to congratulate Paulo Costa following the Brazilian fighter's victory in Miami, going further by predicting that Costa will one day hold UFC gold.
Trump described the win as impressive and noted that he had the chance to speak with Costa outside the ring after the bout. While the 45th president stopped short of naming a specific weight class, his public declaration that Costa is a future champion has amplified the momentum building around the middleweight's recent move up to light heavyweight, where he picked up what has been described as a standout performance.
Costa, 35, carries a professional record of 16 wins and 4 losses and is currently ranked 13th in the middleweight division, though his recent activity has come at 205 pounds. Fighting out of Team Borracha, the six-foot-one Brazilian orthodox striker is one of the more physically imposing competitors in his weight class and brings a reach of 72 inches to every matchup. His offensive output is a defining feature of his game — Costa lands an average of 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 58 percent, numbers that rank among the higher outputs on the roster.
Why it matters
- Costa's move to light heavyweight opens a new path to a title shot in a division with its own contender landscape
- A public endorsement from a high-profile figure like Trump raises Costa's visibility at a pivotal moment in his career
- His elite striking volume and accuracy make him a matchup problem for any opponent at 205 pounds
- At 35, Costa is in a window where divisional timing matters, and momentum from this result could accelerate his ranking climb
