Paulo Costa, the former UFC middleweight title contender, aims to join the growing list of fighters interested in competing at a historic UFC event planned for The White House next year. Costa will return to the Octagon at UFC 318 this Saturday in New Orleans, where he faces Roman Kopylov in a key middleweight division fight.
Although Costa is focused on his upcoming matchup with Kopylov, a win could position him to call out Khamzat Chimaev for a showdown at The White House, a unique venue that UFC CEO Dana White recently confirmed will host a special Fourth of July weekend event in 2024.
Longstanding rivalry fuels Costa’s desire for a White House fight with Khamzat Chimaev
President Donald Trump’s announcement of a UFC event at The White House has stirred interest among several top fighters, including Jon Jones and Conor McGregor. Dana White has also revealed that Paulo Costa has expressed strong interest in settling a long-term rivalry at this unprecedented setting.
In a recent episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, Costa was asked which opponent he would prefer to face for a potential UFC event at The White House, and he did not hesitate.
Chimaev. This son of a b—, I want to fight this guy,
Costa said.
He added,
It has to happen…I’ll call his name [out] after UFC 318, if God gives me this victory…he needs to fight me and I need to fight him. Because, look, I’ve tried to fight him for a long time. Since our beef inside the UFC PI, he has been avoiding to fight me for a long time. He always says no, and the UFC has tried to put this match together, for about two years…
Costa also described personal frustrations regarding Chimaev’s behavior during a period when Costa was recovering from surgery.
The UFC said he doesn’t want to fight me…and the week I got my surgery, he sent a message to my girl,
Costa explained.
He acted like a woman, treated her [badly]. Said ‘I’m going to beat your husband’…he’s so emotional and acts like a woman. I respect women, but a man can’t act like a woman and be so erratic. He loses control very easily, and that’s the kind of thing that women do, not men. So I don’t respect him.
Chimaev is set to face UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis in the main event at UFC 319 next month. The undefeated contender returns after submitting former titleholder Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 in October.
The two were originally scheduled to fight at UFC 294, but Costa pulled out due to injury. Chimaev subsequently accepted a short-notice bout and defeated former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
Khamzat Chimaev’s potential UFC 319 victory could signal retirement
A noteworthy rumor has surfaced regarding Khamzat Chimaev’s future after UFC 319, where he will challenge for the middleweight belt. Caio Borralho, another top contender, recently suggested that Chimaev might retire from fighting if he secures the championship.
Costa is eager to return to winning ways following a loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 302 last year. His most recent victory was against former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 278, highlighting the volatility of the division.
With both Costa and Chimaev preparing for crucial fights, they appear to be on a path destined to reignite their rivalry, potentially culminating in the highly anticipated White House event.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is Paulo Costa ranked?
A. Paulo Henrique Costa, born on April 21, 1991, is a professional mixed martial artist from Brazil. He fights in the Middleweight category for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of June 10, 2025, he holds the 13th spot in the UFC middleweight rankings.
Q. What rank is Paulo Costa?
A. By June 10, 2025, he holds the 13th position in the UFC middleweight rankings.