Contrary to earlier speculation, there is no news of Derrick Lewis being pulled from a fight or a bout announcement against Paulo Costa. Josh Haukiit has simply announced a partnership with an American sports betting exchange. As part of this collaboration, they will be filming behind-the-scenes content with Haukiit throughout fight week. The post clarifies that the announcement was purely commercial in nature and not related to any matchmaking changes.
Reports circulating online about Derrick Lewis being withdrawn from a fight or linked to a bout against Paulo Costa are inaccurate. The actual announcement from Josh Haukiit on May 3, 2026, was a straightforward commercial deal: a partnership with an American sports betting exchange that includes behind-the-scenes content filmed with Haukiit throughout fight week.
The news has no connection to any matchmaking activity involving Lewis or Costa, and no bout between the two has been announced. The confusion appears to have stemmed from misreading or misrepresenting a purely commercial post.
For context, Derrick Lewis is an eight-ranked heavyweight at 41 years old, carrying a 29-14 record. The American fighter out of Main Street Boxing and Muay Thai stands six-foot-three with a 79-inch reach and has finished opponents with his hands throughout a long UFC career.
Paulo Costa, meanwhile, competes at middleweight, where the Brazilian sits ranked thirteenth at 35 years old. Costa holds a 16-4 record and trains out of Team Borracha. He stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and lands significant strikes at a rate of 6.26 per minute with 58 percent accuracy, making him one of the more aggressive volume strikers in his division.
Why it matters
- No fight between Lewis and Costa has been announced or confirmed
- The Haukiit post is a commercial partnership with a sports betting exchange, not a matchmaking development
- Both Lewis and Costa remain active in their respective divisions with no reported changes to their competitive status
