Paulo Costa has stated he is ready to immediately move up to heavyweight to fight Josh Hawkett, potentially at the upcoming White House event. Costa believes he may be the biggest middleweight in history and suggested he could even outweigh Hawkett without a weight cut. He proposed that if Trump still wants Derrick Lewis on the card, the UFC should find him a different opponent. Costa added that if granted the Hawkett fight at the White House, he could also reclaim the $100,000 that Josh allegedly owes him. The callout positions Costa as an alternative to the previously discussed Lewis versus Hawkett matchup.
Paulo Costa has publicly offered to jump two weight classes and compete at heavyweight to face Josh Hawkett at UFC White House, scheduled for June 14, 2026.
Costa, a 35-year-old Brazilian middleweight ranked thirteenth in his division, holds a professional record of 16-4. Standing six feet one inch tall with a 72-inch reach, he has built his reputation on relentless forward pressure and elite striking output, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. He stated he believes he may be the largest middleweight in UFC history and suggested he could potentially outweigh Hawkett even without undergoing a weight cut, making the two-division jump a realistic proposition in his view.
The callout comes in the context of a previously discussed matchup between Hawkett and Derrick Lewis. Costa proposed that if the UFC and the event's organizers still want Lewis on the card, the promotion should find Lewis a separate opponent and slot Costa in against Hawkett instead. Lewis, a 41-year-old American heavyweight ranked eighth in his division, carries a 29-14 record and stands six feet three inches tall with a 79-inch reach, averaging 2.46 significant strikes per minute across his career.
Costa added a financial dimension to his pitch, stating that if the Hawkett fight is granted, he could use the occasion to recover the $100,000 he claims Hawkett owes him.
Why it matters
- Costa's callout directly disrupts planning for a Lewis versus Hawkett pairing at the White House event
- A middleweight competing at heavyweight would be an unusual matchup with significant physical stakes
- The proposed fight carries a personal financial grievance beyond typical divisional competition
- Lewis's placement on the card remains uncertain depending on how the UFC responds to Costa's offer
Sunday, June 14, 2026
