Paulo Costa Demands Final Contract Fight or UFC Release at Light Heavyweight

Paulo Costa has issued a public ultimatum to the UFC over his final contracted fight, demanding the promotion resolve the dispute within a clear set of terms or grant him an immediate release.

Costa, known as "The Eraser," is a 35-year-old Brazilian light heavyweight currently ranked sixth in the division. Carrying a professional record of 16-4, he has built his reputation on elite striking output, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that place him among the most dangerous forwards in the weight class. Standing six feet one inch tall with a 72-inch reach, he fights out of an orthodox stance under Team Borracha.

The crux of his grievance is straightforward: his existing contract structures his pay around a three-round contest, and he has one fight remaining on that deal. Costa has laid out three paths forward for the UFC. First, honour the original agreement and book him in a three-round fight against any available light heavyweight on the roster. Second, schedule him for a five-round bout — but only if the promotion upgrades his compensation accordingly, and does so within a six-week window. Third, if neither option is acceptable, release him outright. Costa made clear he would prefer to remain under either of the first two scenarios rather than walk away.

Why it matters

• Costa sits sixth in the light heavyweight rankings, meaning any opponent the UFC selects could carry genuine divisional weight.
• The three-round versus five-round pay distinction raises broader questions about how the promotion structures contracts for fighters competing above middleweight.
• A release would place one of the division's most prolific strikers on the open market at a pivotal stage of his career.
• The six-week deadline for a five-round booking puts immediate pressure on UFC matchmakers to respond publicly.