Paulo Costa has proposed moving up to heavyweight immediately to face Josh Hockett. Costa claims fans want to see him, potentially the largest middleweight in history, compete against Hockett at heavyweight without a weight cut. He suggested the fight could take place at the White House event and believes he might be heavier than Hockett. Costa also mentioned he could recover $100,000 that Hockett allegedly owes him if the fight happens. He offered this as an alternative if Derrick Lewis needs a different opponent for the White House card.
Paulo Costa has publicly called out heavyweight Josh Hockett, offering to jump two weight classes and compete without a weight cut in what would be one of the more unusual matchups in recent UFC history.
Costa, a 35-year-old Brazilian middleweight standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, holds a professional record of 16-4 and is currently ranked thirteenth in his division. Known for his heavy output — he lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — Costa has long been considered one of the more physically imposing fighters at 185 pounds. He is now leaning into that reputation, describing himself as potentially the largest middleweight in UFC history and suggesting he may actually outweigh Hockett at a natural, uncut weight. He floated the White House event as a potential setting for the bout.
Costa also acknowledged a financial angle, noting that the fight would give him an opportunity to recover $100,000 he claims Hockett owes him. He framed the callout partly as an alternative booking option should Derrick Lewis require a different opponent for the same card.
Lewis, the eighth-ranked heavyweight, carries a record of 29-14 at age 41. The six-foot-three American and his 79-inch reach have made him a fixture in the upper tier of the division for years, and his name appears to be at the center of whatever is taking shape for the White House event.
Why it matters
- Costa moving to heavyweight without a cut would be an almost unprecedented weight jump for a ranked middleweight contender
- The callout creates a potential backup option for the White House card if Lewis's matchup falls through
- A financial dispute between Costa and Hockett adds an unusual personal dimension to the proposed fight
