Paulo Costa plans to compete in both middleweight and light heavyweight

Paulo Costa has announced plans to compete across two weight classes simultaneously, targeting title contention at both middleweight and light heavyweight in the UFC.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," enters this dual-division pursuit with a professional record of 16-4-0 and currently holds the number 13 ranking in the middleweight division. The 35-year-old Brazilian, who stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, trains out of Team Borracha and has built his reputation as one of the sport's most aggressive strikers. He lands an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, making him a consistent finishing threat wherever he competes.

Costa was direct in addressing any perception that a move to light heavyweight signals he can no longer make the 185-pound limit. He clarified that his foray into the 205-pound division — which he described as competing at 93 kilograms — was strategically planned rather than forced by weight-cutting difficulties. According to Costa, everything about the move is calculated and fits into a broader career blueprint he has mapped out for himself in the UFC.

Why it matters

• Costa is already ranked 13th at middleweight, meaning simultaneous campaigns could complicate his path to a 185-pound title shot
• A credible run at light heavyweight would put him in contention in a second division, raising his overall profile
• His high-volume striking style — over six significant strikes landed per minute — translates naturally to the heavier weight class, where power is paramount
• How the UFC schedules a fighter pursuing rankings in two divisions at once will be worth monitoring as fights are booked