Paulo Costa has proposed moving up to heavyweight immediately to face Josh Hawkit at the upcoming White House UFC event. The Brazilian middleweight, who calls himself possibly the biggest middleweight in history, believes he could be heavier than Hawkit without a weight cut. Costa also mentioned he could reclaim the $100,000 that Hawkit allegedly owes him. He suggested that if President Trump still wants Derrick Lewis on the card, the UFC could find Lewis a different opponent. The callout represents Costa's willingness to compete at heavyweight for this special event.
Paulo Costa has thrown out a bold cross-divisional challenge, publicly offering to jump up to heavyweight to fight Josh Hawkit at the UFC White House event scheduled for June 14, 2026.
Costa, known as "The Eraser," holds a 16-4-0 record and currently sits ranked thirteenth in the middleweight division. The 35-year-old Brazilian, who trains out of Team Borracha, stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and has built his reputation on an aggressive striking game that produces 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. He has positioned himself as potentially the largest middleweight in UFC history, suggesting he could come into the fight heavier than Hawkit without needing to cut any weight at all.
Beyond the sporting challenge, Costa also floated the prospect of recovering $100,000 he claims Hawkit owes him, adding a personal financial dimension to the callout.
Costa also addressed the card's existing lineup, suggesting that if President Trump wants Derrick Lewis featured at the event, the UFC could simply find Lewis a separate opponent. Lewis, "The Black Beast," is currently ranked eighth in the heavyweight division with a 29-14-0 record. The 41-year-old American stands six-foot-three with a 79-inch reach and remains one of the division's most recognizable names, landing 2.46 significant strikes per minute across his career.
Why it matters
- Costa moving to heavyweight, even for a one-off, would be an unusual weight jump of at least one full division
- A financial dispute between Costa and Hawkit adds an extra layer of stakes beyond the fight itself
- Lewis's placement on the card remains unresolved if the UFC accepts Costa's proposal, leaving a heavyweight matchmaking question open ahead of the June event
Sunday, June 14, 2026
