Paulo Costa says he has been unable to secure a next fight since his win over Azamat, with UFC matchmakers repeatedly telling him to wait. Costa says he is open to competing at light heavyweight, middleweight, or even heavyweight, but has received no concrete offer despite reaching out to Hunter Campbell. With one fight remaining on his contract, Costa fears the promotion is deliberately stalling to prevent him from reaching free agency in a stronger bargaining position.
Paulo Costa says he is stuck in limbo with the UFC, unable to book a fight despite holding one bout remaining on his current contract.
The Brazilian middleweight, known as "The Eraser," went public with his frustration after claiming UFC matchmakers have repeatedly told him to wait following his most recent victory, over Azamat. Costa says he has reached out directly to UFC executive Hunter Campbell but has yet to receive a concrete offer. He expressed willingness to compete across multiple weight classes, including middleweight, light heavyweight, and even heavyweight, but nothing has materialized.
Costa enters this standoff as a ranked middleweight, sitting 13th in the division at 35 years old. He carries a professional record of 16 wins and 4 losses and has long been regarded as one of the more dangerous strikers in the 185-pound class. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, Costa lands an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent striking accuracy rate — numbers that reflect his aggressive, pressure-heavy style. He trains out of Team Borracha and competes out of an orthodox stance.
Why it matters
- Costa suspects the UFC is deliberately stalling to keep him from reaching free agency on favorable terms, a claim that points to broader tension around fighter contract leverage.
- With one fight left on his deal, any further delays shrink the window for Costa to negotiate from a position of recent activity and momentum.
- His openness to competing at light heavyweight or heavyweight could widen the pool of potential opponents, but no division has produced an offer yet.
- A fighter ranked 13th at middleweight with his striking profile would hold value for multiple contenders, making the reported inaction notable from a matchmaking standpoint.
