Paulo Costa has declared his willingness to immediately move up to heavyweight to face Josh Howitt, potentially at the upcoming White House event. Costa stated that he believes most fans would want to see him, possibly the largest middleweight in history, compete against Howitt at heavyweight without a weight cut. He suggested he might even be heavier than Howitt on fight night. Costa also mentioned that if the UFC wants Derrick Lewis on the card, they should find him a different opponent. Additionally, Costa referenced that a fight with Howitt would give him an opportunity to reclaim $100,000 that he claims Howitt owes him. The post asks fans whether they would prefer to see Costa vs. Howitt or Howitt vs. Lewis.
Paulo Costa has publicly called out Josh Howitt at heavyweight, declaring his readiness to make an immediate jump from middleweight and potentially compete at the division's limit at the upcoming White House event.
Costa, ranked 13th in the UFC middleweight division, holds a professional record of 16-4 and has long carried a frame that pushes the limits of the 185-pound class. 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 as one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, landing an exceptional 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Costa argued that he may well be the largest middleweight in UFC history and suggested he could actually outweigh Howitt on fight night without a weight cut — a notable claim for any middleweight looking up at the heavyweights.
Beyond the sporting angle, Costa also stated that a fight with Howitt would give him a chance to recover $100,000 he claims Howitt owes him personally, adding a financial grievance to the public callout. Costa further indicated that if the UFC intends to book Derrick Lewis for the White House card, the promotion should find Lewis a separate opponent rather than slotting Howitt in against him.
Lewis, for his part, is the eighth-ranked heavyweight at 41 years old, carrying a record of 29-14. The six-foot-three American out of Main Street Boxing and Muay Thai possesses a 79-inch reach and remains one of the division's most dangerous finishers.
Why it matters
- Costa moving to heavyweight would be an unusual cross-divisional jump, raising questions about how a natural middleweight competes at the upper end of the weight scale.
- The callout directly impacts booking decisions for the White House card, with Costa positioning himself as an alternative opponent for Howitt over Lewis.
- A personal financial dispute between Costa and Howitt adds an uncommon off-cage dimension to the potential matchup.
