Paulo Costa has declared himself ready to compete for a title against Magomed Ankalaev following Carlos Ulberg's withdrawal. Costa revealed he spoke with Ulberg yesterday, who confirmed he will undergo surgery and be sidelined for a year. With Ulberg out of action, Costa believes the UFC should organize another title fight, either for an interim or vacant belt. Costa stated he plans to participate and should be next in line to fight for the championship. He emphasized his readiness to step in for a title bout at light heavyweight.
Paulo Costa has volunteered to step in as a light heavyweight title challenger against Magomed Ankalaev after Carlos Ulberg was forced to withdraw from a scheduled championship bout due to injury.
Costa, a 35-year-old Brazilian currently ranked 13th in the middleweight division, revealed he spoke directly with Ulberg and learned the New Zealander requires surgery and will be sidelined for approximately one year. With that vacancy now open, Costa made clear he intends to be the man standing across from Ankalaev, calling on the UFC to organize either an interim or vacant belt contest at light heavyweight.
The call-out represents a division jump for Costa, who carries a 16-4-0 record and fights out of Team Borracha. He is one of the more aggressive strikers in the sport, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, though he operates primarily at middleweight.
The man he wants to face, Ankalaev, holds a 21-2-1 record and sits first in the light heavyweight rankings with a top-five pound-for-pound placement. The 34-year-old Russian from Gorets Fight Club is listed at six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach and blends measured striking with a solid takedown game, averaging 0.79 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Ulberg, ranked third at light heavyweight, was building toward what would have been a significant step up in competition. The New Zealand-based City Kickboxing product owns a 15-1-0 record and had been one of the division's more dangerous strikers, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Ankalaev's title situation requires a challenger, and Costa's public push adds pressure on the UFC to act quickly.
- A move to light heavyweight would be a notable divisional jump for Costa, raising questions about how his middleweight frame translates up a class.
- Ulberg's year-long absence reshapes the top of a light heavyweight division already thin at the elite level.
