Paulo Costa says that since his victory over Azamat he has been actively seeking his next fight, exploring opportunities at light heavyweight, middleweight, and even heavyweight. The response from UFC executive Hunter Campbell has consistently been to wait, and Costa is now frustrated as July arrives with no bout booked. With one fight remaining on his contract, Costa believes the promotion may be deliberately delaying in order to prevent him from becoming a free agent with leverage.
Paulo Costa is publicly calling out the UFC for what he believes is a deliberate effort to stall his career, revealing he has been unable to secure a fight since his last victory despite actively pursuing bookings across multiple weight classes.
Costa, 35, competes at middleweight and currently sits at number 13 in the divisional rankings. The Brazilian fighter out of Team Borracha carries a professional record of 16-4 and has built his reputation as one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he is a physically imposing presence at 185 pounds.
Following his win over Azamat, Costa says he pushed for opportunities not only at middleweight but also explored potential bouts at light heavyweight and even heavyweight. According to Costa, UFC executive Hunter Campbell's repeated response was simply to wait. Now, with July arrived and nothing scheduled, Costa's frustration has spilled into public view.
The timing of his complaints carries added weight given his contractual situation. Costa states he has just one fight remaining on his current deal with the promotion, and he believes the UFC may be deliberately running out the clock to keep him from reaching free agency while still holding meaningful leverage.
Why it matters
- Costa entering free agency with one fight left could give him rare negotiating power if he fulfills his contract elsewhere or forces the UFC's hand
- A fighter ranked 13th at middleweight shopping across three weight classes signals genuine uncertainty about where his future lies
- The dispute puts a spotlight on how promotions manage contract timing with veteran fighters approaching the final stages of their deals
