Paulo Costa has stated he is prepared to compete for the UFC light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev. Costa revealed that current champion Carlos Ulberg will be out for a year following surgery. Costa believes the UFC should organize a title fight, whether for an interim or vacant belt, and he plans to participate. He emphasized that he deserves to be next in line to fight for the championship. The post does not specify the nature of Ulberg's injury or confirm whether the UFC has agreed to the proposed matchup.
Paulo Costa has publicly called for a UFC light heavyweight title fight against Magomed Ankalaev, citing a reported year-long absence for reigning champion Carlos Ulberg following surgery.
Costa, ranked thirteenth in the middleweight division, is making a bold push to move up a weight class and insert himself into championship contention. The Brazilian, who fights out of Team Borracha, carries a 16-4-0 record and is one of the more prolific strikers in the organization at any weight, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute with a 58 percent striking accuracy. Now 35 years old, Costa has been vocal about deserving a title opportunity and believes the UFC should organize either an interim or vacant belt fight rather than wait for Ulberg to return.
Ulberg, also 35, claimed the light heavyweight title and carries a 15-1-0 record. The New Zealand fighter based out of City Kickboxing stands six-foot-four and carries a 77-inch reach, posting 6.54 significant strikes landed per minute. His surgery and the reported one-year timeline away from competition are the catalyst for Costa's push.
Ankalaev, the number-one ranked light heavyweight contender, holds a 21-2-1 record and sits fifth on the pound-for-pound rankings. The Russian fighter from Gorets Fight Club is six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach and averages 0.79 takedowns per fifteen minutes, giving him a well-rounded skill set that blends striking with consistent grappling output.
Why it matters
- Ulberg's reported year-long absence creates a genuine vacancy at the top of the light heavyweight division.
- Ankalaev, as the number-one ranked contender, is the most logical opponent for any interim or vacant title fight.
- Costa would be moving up from middleweight, where he is ranked thirteenth, making his place in the title picture far from certain.
- No UFC confirmation of the matchup exists, leaving the proposal firmly in the callout stage.
