Paulo Costa calls for title fight with Magomed Ankalaev

Paulo Costa has publicly called for a light heavyweight title shot against Magomed Ankalaev, citing an injury to a current contender that he believes has opened the door for a new challenger.

Costa, 35, competes at middleweight and sits ranked thirteenth in that division with a professional record of 16-4-0. The Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the more aggressive strikers in the sport, landing an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. He stated that he spoke directly with Carlos — identified only by first name — who confirmed he will require surgery and is expected to be sidelined for approximately one year. Based on that conversation, Costa believes the UFC should install either a temporary or vacant title to keep the light heavyweight championship active, and he has made clear he intends to be part of that fight.

Standing across from him in any such matchup would be Ankalaev, the number-one ranked light heavyweight contender in the world and fifth on the pound-for-pound rankings. The 34-year-old Russian, fighting out of Gorets Fight Club, carries a record of 21-2-1 and presents a well-rounded threat. At six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach, he lands 3.65 significant strikes per minute while also averaging 0.79 takedowns per fifteen minutes, giving him credible options on both feet and on the mat.

Why it matters

• A vacancy or interim title at light heavyweight would create an immediate high-profile main event opportunity.
• Costa would be moving up a weight class, adding an additional layer of intrigue to any potential matchup.
• Ankalaev, as the division's top-ranked contender, would be the natural opponent for any interim or vacant title scenario.
• The injured contender's timeline — roughly one year — suggests the UFC may need to act sooner rather than later to keep the belt active.