Magomed Ankalaev has revealed that Paulo Costa has declined a fight with him on three separate occasions, according to information passed on by his team. Ankalaev took a sardonic tone, quipping that he would refuse a fight with himself too. He emphasized that his interest in facing Costa stems from a desire to test his skills against a worthy opponent, not from viewing him as an easy win.
Magomed Ankalaev has publicly called out Paulo Costa after revealing that the Brazilian has turned down a fight with him on three separate occasions, with the information coming through Ankalaev's team.
The Russian light heavyweight contender was characteristically dry about the situation, quipping that he would probably turn down a fight with himself too. Despite the sardonic delivery, Ankalaev made clear his interest in Costa is genuine — he wants to test his skills against a capable opponent, not collect a favorable matchup.
Ankalaev enters this conversation as the number-one ranked light heavyweight in the world and sits fifth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 34-year-old from Russia carries a record of 22-2-1 and stands six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach. Fighting out of Gorets Fight Club, he lands 3.65 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and adds strong grappling pressure with 0.79 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Costa, ranked sixth in the division, brings a very different profile to the table. The 35-year-old Brazilian is one of the more active strikers in the weight class, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, the Team Borracha product holds a record of 16-4-0 and has built his reputation on aggressive, pressure-heavy boxing.
Why it matters
- Ankalaev is the top-ranked contender at 205 pounds and a win over a ranked opponent like Costa could strengthen his case for a title shot.
- Costa at number six represents a meaningful stylistic test, given his elite striking output and aggression.
- Three reported rejections signal a broader pattern that raises questions about Costa's willingness to engage with upper-tier contenders in the division.
- The style contrast — Ankalaev's grappling-integrated game versus Costa's pure striking volume — makes this a legitimately compelling matchup on paper.
