Paulo Costa expressed extreme dissatisfaction that Josh Hokit received a double bonus for his fight with Curtis Blaydes while Costa received no bonus at all. Costa argued that while Hokit's fight was excellent and possibly one of the best heavyweight bouts he's seen, his own finish of an undefeated Russian opponent with a 16-0 record deserved Performance of the Night honors. The Brazilian was so upset that he contacted Dana White and Hunter Campbell directly about what he considers an injustice. Costa stated the situation made him feel terrible and that he's hoping UFC leadership will reconsider their decision. He emphasized that he dominated and finished his opponent through three rounds with heavy strikes.
Paulo Costa has gone public with his frustration after being passed over for a post-fight bonus, directing his complaints all the way to UFC leadership following what he described as a deeply unfair decision.
Costa, ranked 13th in the middleweight division, took particular issue with Josh Hokit receiving a double bonus for his fight against Curtis Blaydes while Costa walked away with nothing. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha holds a professional record of 16 wins and 4 losses and has built his reputation on relentless forward pressure and heavy output. He lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, numbers that rank among the most impressive in his division.
Costa argued that finishing an undefeated Russian opponent who entered the contest at 16-0 — through three rounds of dominant striking — was more than worthy of Performance of the Night recognition. He was so dissatisfied with the decision that he reached out directly to Dana White and Hunter Campbell, urging UFC leadership to reconsider. Costa said the situation left him feeling terrible.
Hokit, 28 and now 5-0 as a professional, earned the double bonus alongside fourth-ranked heavyweight Curtis Blaydes in what Costa himself acknowledged was an excellent fight and potentially one of the best heavyweight bouts he had witnessed. Blaydes, a 35-year-old American from Elevation Fight Team, carries a 19-6 record and averages 5.38 takedown attempts per 15 minutes, making him one of the more physically imposing and technically complete heavyweights in the sport.
Why it matters
- Costa believes a three-round dominant finish of an unbeaten opponent set a high bar that went unrewarded
- His direct appeal to White and Campbell signals how seriously he views the slight
- Bonus decisions carry financial weight and public profile, both meaningful for a fighter sitting outside the top 10 at middleweight
