Paulo Costa calls out Chimaev after UFC 328 loss, calls him a poodle

Paulo Costa wasted no time responding to Khamzat Chimaev's loss at UFC 328, publicly calling out the middleweight contender the day after the event and mocking him in pointed terms.

Chimaev, who carries the nickname "Borz" — meaning wolf — was on the wrong end of a split decision against Sean Strickland in a middleweight title fight at UFC 328 on May 9. Costa seized on the defeat, declaring that Chimaev is not the wolf his nickname suggests but rather a poodle, and demanding an immediate fight with him.

Costa, 35, enters the picture as a ranked middleweight himself, sitting at number 13 in the division. The Brazilian fighter out of Team Borracha carries a professional record of 16-4 and is known for his aggressive striking output, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. He is an orthodox striker standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach.

Chimaev, now 15-1, had been the number-one ranked middleweight and sits at number 10 in the pound-for-pound rankings heading into the contest. The 32-year-old representing the UAE and Allstars Training Center is a physically imposing presence at six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. His calling card has been a relentless grappling game, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same span, complemented by a 60 percent striking accuracy.

Why it matters

• Chimaev's first professional loss reshuffles the middleweight title picture and opens the door for ranked contenders to target him.
• A win over the former number-one contender would significantly elevate Costa from his current ranking of 13th in the division.
• The stylistic contrast is sharp — Costa's high-volume striking against Chimaev's elite wrestling and submission threat — making the matchup a compelling one on paper.