Paulo Costa has publicly dismissed suggestions that he fight Magomed Ankalaev or Jiri Prochazka, arguing that Ankalaev's recent performance puts him closer to being cut than to a title shot. Costa, who knocked out Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 to break into the light heavyweight top five, insists he deserves a shot at the undisputed title. With champion Carlos Ulberg sidelined until at least 2027, Costa could be the UFC's first call if an interim title is introduced in the division.
Paulo Costa has made his position clear: he wants the UFC light heavyweight title, and he is not interested in any detours.
The Brazilian contender, known as "The Eraser," made the declaration publicly after his knockout victory over Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 pushed him into the light heavyweight top five. Costa carries a 16-4-0 record and fights out of Team Borracha. At 35 years old, he is one of the division's most aggressive strikers, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that rank among the best in the 205-pound class.
Costa specifically dismissed Magomed Ankalaev as a worthy next step, suggesting Ankalaev's recent showing was poor enough to raise questions about his standing in the division rather than earn him a title fight. He similarly brushed aside any notion of facing Jiri Prochazka, the Czech Republic's No. 2-ranked contender who sits at 32-6-1 and presents a dangerous threat with his six-foot-three frame, a reach of 80 inches, and a striking output of 5.69 significant strikes per minute.
The champion Costa is targeting is Carlos Ulberg. The New Zealander from City Kickboxing holds a 15-1-0 record and is the most active striker in the division, landing 6.54 significant strikes per minute. However, Ulberg is not expected to return until at least 2027, leaving a window that Costa believes the UFC may fill with an interim title.
Why it matters
- Costa's win at UFC 327 moved him into the top five, making his title shot argument harder to dismiss
- Ulberg's extended absence creates a real possibility the UFC introduces an interim light heavyweight championship
- Costa's refusal to fight Ankalaev or Prochazka narrows the matchmaking options considerably and puts pressure on the promotion to respond
- A potential interim title bout would carry full divisional implications whenever Ulberg returns
