Paulo Costa expressed strong frustration that Josh Howitt received a double bonus for his fight with Curtis Blaydes while Costa received nothing. Costa argued that he deserved the performance bonus for finishing his 16-0 Russian opponent early after three rounds of heavy striking. He said Howitt had an excellent heavyweight fight but that his own performance was more deserving of recognition. Costa was so upset that he contacted Dana White and Hunter Campbell, stating the decision felt unfair and caused extreme negative emotions. He expressed hope and trust that UFC management would reconsider the decision, which he believes was a mistake.
Paulo Costa has gone public with his frustration after middleweight Josh Howitt collected a double bonus following his heavyweight clash with Curtis Blaydes, leaving Costa empty-handed despite what he considered a bonus-worthy performance on the same card.
Costa, a 35-year-old Brazilian middleweight ranked thirteenth in his division at 16-4-0, was visibly aggrieved that his finish of an undefeated Russian opponent went unrewarded. The Brazilian, who stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, is one of the sport's most prolific pressure strikers, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. He argued that putting away a 16-0 opponent early, after three rounds of sustained heavy output, made his performance deserving of at least one of the night's bonuses.
Blaydes, the fourth-ranked heavyweight contender at 19-6-0, is a 35-year-old American out of Elevation Fight Team who stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach. He averages an elite 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes, making his heavyweight bout with Howitt a notable stylistic clash. Costa acknowledged Howitt and Blaydes put on an excellent fight, but maintained his own finish warranted recognition over a double award going to a single performance.
Costa's frustration reached the point where he personally contacted UFC president Dana White and executive Hunter Campbell, telling them the decision felt deeply unfair and triggered extreme negative emotions. He expressed hope that UFC management would revisit the matter, framing it as an honest mistake rather than a deliberate slight.
Why it matters
- Costa's finish of an undefeated opponent is a strong case for a Performance of the Night bonus under normal UFC criteria
- Double bonuses going to a single fight are relatively uncommon, adding weight to Costa's argument about distribution
- At ranked thirteenth in middleweight, Costa needs high-profile moments to climb, making bonus recognition a practical as well as financial concern
