Paulo Costa has declared his readiness to fight for the title against Magomed Ankalaev. Costa explained that Carlos is out for a year after speaking with him yesterday, confirming that Carlos will undergo surgery and is out of competition. Costa believes the promotion should organize a title fight, either for an interim or vacant belt, and stated he plans to participate in it. He expressed that he should be next in line for a championship opportunity.
Paulo Costa has publicly called for a light heavyweight title shot against champion Magomed Ankalaev, citing an injury to a rival contender as his reasoning for why the promotion should move forward with a championship bout.
Costa, 35, competes primarily at middleweight, where he holds a 16-4 record and sits ranked thirteenth in that division. The Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the most prolific strikers in the UFC, landing an eye-catching 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. He told his followers that he spoke directly with Carlos — presumably a fellow contender — who confirmed he will undergo surgery and is expected to be sidelined for roughly a year. Costa used that news as the basis for his push, arguing he should be next in line for a championship opportunity and that the UFC should organize either an interim or vacant title fight.
Ankalaev, the light heavyweight champion, enters any potential defense as one of the most decorated fighters in the promotion. The 34-year-old Russian carries a 21-2-1 record and is currently ranked first in the light heavyweight division and fifth pound-for-pound. Standing six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach, Ankalaev fights out of Gorets Fight Club and mixes clean striking with a takedown threat of 0.79 attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Costa is a middleweight moving up a full weight class, making this an unusual cross-division callout
- With a top contender reportedly out for a year, the light heavyweight title picture has genuine uncertainty
- Ankalaev's grappling-plus-striking style would present a very different challenge from the opponents Costa has faced at 185 pounds
- The UFC would need to officially sanction any interim or vacant belt scenario before the fight can be made
