Paulo Costa has stated his intention to campaign simultaneously in both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. The Brazilian emphasized that his move to light heavyweight is strategic rather than necessary, noting he can still make middleweight comfortably. Costa explained he accepted a good opportunity to compete at 205 pounds but remains committed to both weight classes. He expressed his ambition to become a title contender in each division, suggesting a calculated approach to maximize his opportunities in the UFC.
Paulo Costa has announced plans to compete across two weight classes simultaneously, targeting both middleweight and light heavyweight as he looks to expand his opportunities inside the UFC.
Costa, 35, holds a professional record of 16-4 and currently sits ranked 13th in the middleweight division. The Brazilian out of Team Borracha stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and brings one of the more aggressive striking profiles in the sport, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. He has said the move up to 205 pounds is a matter of strategy rather than necessity, emphasizing that making the middleweight limit remains well within reach for him.
The former middleweight title challenger explained that a strong opportunity to compete at light heavyweight presented itself and he chose to take it, while stressing he has no intention of abandoning the 185-pound division. His stated goal is to become a legitimate title contender in both weight classes — an ambitious dual-division campaign that would place him among a small group of fighters attempting to build ranking positions simultaneously across two rosters.
Why it matters
- Costa remains ranked at middleweight and a strong performance at light heavyweight could elevate his profile across both divisions
- His high-volume, high-accuracy striking style translates naturally to the heavier division, where he would not carry a size disadvantage
- Success in the 205-pound bracket could open a second path to a UFC title shot should his middleweight ranking stall
- The strategy puts additional pressure on contenders in both divisions who could find themselves matched against him
