Paulo Costa expressed strong dissatisfaction with the UFC's decision to award Josh Howitt a double bonus while Costa received nothing. Costa acknowledged that Howitt's fight with Curtis Blades was excellent and possibly one of the best heavyweight bouts he has seen, but argued that receiving two bonuses was excessive. Costa believed he deserved the Performance of the Night bonus for finishing his previously undefeated Russian opponent (16-0) after three rounds of dominant striking. The Brazilian revealed he was so upset that he contacted Dana White and Hunter Campbell directly about what he considers an injustice. Costa expressed hope that UFC management will reconsider their decision, stating the situation has him extremely frustrated and wanting to "destroy everything."
Paulo Costa has gone public with his frustration over the UFC's post-fight bonus decisions, arguing that he was passed over for a Performance of the Night award he believes he rightfully earned.
Costa, a 35-year-old Brazilian middleweight ranked 13th in his division, holds a professional record of 16-4. Fighting out of Team Borracha with an orthodox stance and standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, the hard-hitting contender has built his reputation on relentless pressure and volume striking — averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. He finished his most recent opponent, a previously undefeated Russian fighter who entered the bout at 16-0, via stoppage after three rounds of dominant striking work.
Despite that performance, Costa received no bonus. Instead, Josh Howitt walked away with a double bonus following his heavyweight fight with Curtis Blades — a bout Costa himself acknowledged was exceptional and perhaps one of the best heavyweight fights he has ever witnessed. Still, Costa argued that awarding one fighter two bonuses while leaving a fighter who finished an unbeaten opponent with nothing was an unfair outcome.
His frustration reportedly drove him to contact UFC President Dana White and executive Hunter Campbell directly to voice his complaint. Costa stopped short of claiming Howitt did not deserve recognition, but maintained that the distribution was unjust and expressed hope that UFC management would reconsider. He described his emotional state in vivid terms, saying the situation left him wanting to destroy everything.
Why it matters
- Costa finished a previously undefeated opponent and received no bonus, raising questions about how the UFC weights bonus-worthy performances
- The double award to one fighter in the same bonus pool is an uncommon outcome and naturally invites scrutiny
- At 13th in the middleweight rankings with a 16-4 record, Costa remains in the mix for a divisional run and any sense of institutional slight could shape his near-term trajectory
