Paulo Costa has put to rest any speculation about his future with the UFC by announcing in an interview with PVT that he has agreed to a new four-fight contract.
The middleweight contender had been vocal about his dissatisfaction with his pay, calling it "ridiculous" and "unfair," but after realizing that simply saying "yes" to the UFC wasn't getting him anywhere, he turned to his girlfriend Tamara Alves for management.
Alves was instrumental in helping Costa reach a new agreement with the UFC that satisfied him enough to re-sign. Although the contract has yet to be signed, Costa said that a deal has been reached, and he praised Alves for her hard work in securing it.
"I haven’t signed the contract yet but we have reached a deal with the UFC regarding the pay. It wasn’t easy, there was a lot of hard work, and I have to highlight Tamara’s brilliant work here."
Paulo Costa has revealed that he is currently in negotiations with the UFC for his next fight. The promotion has offered him two options: a bout with Sean Strickland in May or a clash with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi on October 21st. While Costa expressed interest in both fights, he also expressed his desire to face both fighters back-to-back in 2023.
"I want that, too. [The UFC] wants to make sure this Chimaev fight happens at all costs, but I want to make both happen. We’ll see.”
Although the UFC seems intent on making the Chimaev fight happen, Costa remains optimistic about the possibility of facing both men. Costa boasts a professional record of 14-2, including a 6-2 record since joining the UFC. He most recently defeated Luke Rockhold in August 2022, snapping a two-fight losing streak against Marvin Vettori and Israel Adesanya.