Former US President Donald Trump congratulated Paulo Costa on social media following his recent victory in Miami and predicted the Brazilian will become a future UFC champion. Trump praised Costa's performance and mentioned they spoke outside the ring after the fight. The post indicates Trump attended the Miami event and personally interacted with Costa. Trump's public endorsement adds celebrity attention to Costa's recent move to light heavyweight. Fan reactions are mixed on whether Costa has legitimate title prospects in the 205-pound division.
Former US President Donald Trump took to social media to praise Paulo Costa following Costa's recent victory at a UFC event in Miami, predicting the Brazilian fighter will one day hold UFC gold.
Trump indicated he attended the Miami card in person and spoke with Costa outside the ring after the bout. His post offered a public endorsement of Costa's championship potential, drawing a wave of celebrity attention to the middleweight contender's career at a pivotal moment.
Costa, known as "The Eraser," carries a record of 16 wins and 4 losses and is currently ranked 13th in the middleweight division at 35 years old. The six-foot-one Brazilian, representing Team Borracha, fights out of an orthodox stance with a 72-inch reach. He is one of the more aggressive strikers in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 58 percent — numbers that place him among the higher-volume punchers in the division.
Why it matters
- Trump's endorsement and reported ringside presence raises Costa's public profile at a time when he is exploring a move up to light heavyweight at 205 pounds
- Costa currently sits 13th in the middleweight rankings, meaning a divisional jump could open a fresher path toward contention
- His high-volume striking style — with virtually no submission threat — sets up a straightforward stylistic identity at 205 pounds, where power punchers can thrive
- Fan reaction to Trump's championship prediction has been divided, with observers split on whether Costa has a realistic route to a title in either weight class
