Josh Hokit shared a private text conversation with Paulo Costa in which the Brazilian fighter demanded $100,000 from him. In the exchange, Costa wrote "100k and we're even. Give me my money back," to which Hokit responded mockingly about pizza. Costa replied that he eats a lot of pizza to gain weight and fight Hokit. Hokit captioned the post by calling Costa a "stupid Brazilian." The context for why Costa believes he is owed money is not explained in the post.
A private text exchange between UFC middleweight Paulo Costa and combat sports figure Josh Hokit went public on April 18, 2026, after Hokit shared the conversation on social media, revealing that Costa had demanded $100,000 from him.
In the leaked messages, Costa wrote "100k and we're even. Give me my money back," a direct financial demand whose origins were not explained in the post. Hokit responded with a joke about pizza, prompting Costa to fire back that he eats a lot of pizza to bulk up and fight Hokit. Hokit captioned the post by calling Costa a "stupid Brazilian." The underlying reason Costa believes he is owed money remains unclear.
Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," is a 35-year-old Brazilian middleweight competing out of Team Borracha. He carries a 16-4-0 professional record and sits at number 13 in the divisional rankings. At six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he is one of the more physically imposing fighters in the 185-pound class, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent striking accuracy rate.
Hokit, nicknamed "The Incredible Hok," is a 28-year-old who holds an unbeaten 5-0-0 professional record.
Why it matters
- Costa is a ranked middleweight whose public disputes draw significant attention to anyone involved
- The financial demand and its context remain unexplained, leaving the full story unresolved
- Hokit's mockery and the public nature of the exchange have amplified the dispute beyond a private matter
