Paulo Costa expressed strong dissatisfaction with the UFC's decision to award Josh Howitt two bonuses while Costa received none. Costa argued that his finish of an undefeated Russian opponent with a 16-0 record deserved recognition over Howitt's performance against Curtis Blaydes. The Brazilian fighter was so upset that he contacted Dana White and Hunter Campbell directly to protest the decision. Costa believes the UFC made an error and hopes management will reconsider their choice. He stated the decision filled him with terrible feelings and frustration, claiming he deserved the Performance of the Night bonus.
Paulo Costa has gone public with his frustration after the UFC declined to award him a post-fight bonus despite finishing an undefeated opponent, instead handing two bonuses to heavyweight Josh Howitt following his performance against Curtis Blaydes.
Costa, a 35-year-old Brazilian middleweight ranked thirteenth in his division, was visibly upset by the snub and made his feelings known at the highest level, reaching out directly to UFC president Dana White and executive Hunter Campbell to contest the decision. The former title contender carries a 16-4-0 record and fights out of Team Borracha, bringing one of the most aggressive output rates in the division at 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute with a striking accuracy of 58 percent. He argued that stopping a Russian fighter who entered the bout with a perfect 16-0 record warranted more recognition than Howitt's win over Blaydes.
Blaydes, the fourth-ranked heavyweight in the UFC at 35 years old, holds a 19-6-0 record and is among the most accomplished wrestlers in the division, averaging 5.38 takedown attempts per 15 minutes. The American fights out of Elevation Fight Team and stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Costa believes the UFC made an outright error and is pushing management to reconsider, raising questions about how bonuses are evaluated.
- Finishing a previously undefeated fighter is one of the stronger cases a competitor can make for a Performance of the Night award, adding credibility to his complaint.
- The dispute keeps Costa, currently ranked thirteenth at middleweight, in the public conversation as he works to climb back toward contention.
- How the UFC responds — or declines to respond — could influence how fighters publicly handle bonus grievances going forward.
