Paulo Costa expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the UFC's decision to award Josh Howitt a double bonus while Costa received no bonus. Costa acknowledged Howitt's excellent heavyweight fight with Curtis Blades but argued his own performance was more deserving. He emphasized that he finished his fight early against an undefeated Russian opponent with a 16-0 record, delivering three rounds of brutal striking. Costa was so upset that he directly contacted Dana White and Hunter Campbell to protest the decision. He stated the decision made him feel terrible and asked for it to be reconsidered, trusting that UFC leadership would take care of him. Costa believes he clearly deserved the Performance of the Night bonus over Howitt.
Paulo Costa has gone public with his frustration over UFC bonus decisions following his recent performance, revealing he contacted UFC president Dana White and executive Hunter Campbell directly to contest the outcome.
Costa, a 35-year-old Brazilian middleweight ranked 13th in his division, took issue with the UFC awarding heavyweight contender Josh Howitt a double bonus while Costa walked away empty-handed. The Eraser acknowledged that Howitt's fight against Curtis Blades was excellent but insisted his own performance was more deserving of recognition. Costa argued that finishing an undefeated Russian opponent who carried a 16-0 record, while delivering three rounds of brutal striking along the way, was a performance that warranted bonus consideration above all others on the card.
The 16-4 middleweight is one of the more physically imposing fighters in his division, standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, and his statistical profile backs up his reputation as a volume puncher. He lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy rate of 58 percent, numbers that reflect the relentless offensive output he brought into the fight that earned him no bonus.
Costa stated the decision made him feel terrible and expressed trust that White and Campbell would reconsider after he raised the issue with them personally.
Why it matters
- Costa's grievance puts a spotlight on how the UFC weighs finishing bonuses across weight classes and matchup contexts
- A middleweight ranked 13th picking up a Performance of the Night would have strengthened his case for higher-profile bookings
- The public campaign toward UFC leadership signals Costa views the bonus not merely as extra income but as a measure of respect for his style and effort
