Josh Hawkit announces betting partnership, no fight news with Paulo Costa

Josh Hawkit has announced a partnership with an American sports betting exchange, clarifying that the news has no connection to a fight booking involving Paulo Costa or any roster change affecting Derrick Lewis.

The deal will see Hawkit produce behind-the-scenes content tied to the betting platform throughout fight week. No further details about the exchange itself or the full scope of the content arrangement were disclosed. The announcement appears to address earlier speculation or misinformation that had linked Hawkit's name to a potential matchup or a withdrawal in the heavyweight or middleweight divisions.

Paulo Costa, the Brazilian middleweight ranked thirteenth in his division, holds a professional record of 16-4-0 and fights out of Team Borracha. The 35-year-old stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and is one of the more active strikers in the division, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate.

Derrick Lewis, ranked eighth in the heavyweight division, carries a record of 29-14-0 and trains at Main Street Boxing and Muay Thai in the United States. The 41-year-old stands six-foot-three with a 79-inch reach and has long been one of the most dangerous finishers in the heavyweight ranks, landing 2.46 significant strikes per minute with a 49 percent accuracy rate.

Why it matters

• Neither Costa nor Lewis is involved in Hawkit's announced deal, dispelling circulating speculation about a fight or roster move.
• The partnership is a media and commercial arrangement, not a competitive development for either the middleweight or heavyweight division.
• Rankings and matchup landscapes for both fighters remain unchanged by this announcement.