Paulo Costa reignited his rivalry with Khamzat Chimaev ahead of his upcoming middleweight bout at UFC 318 in Louisiana. The Brazilian fighter openly challenged Chimaev, emphasizing his desire to settle unfinished business after their previously scheduled fight at UFC 294 was canceled due to Costa’s elbow infection.
The focus keyword, Paulo Costa challenges Khamzat Chimaev, underlines a tense atmosphere that has permeated the lead-up to UFC 318, where Costa is preparing to face Roman Kopylov. His comments reflect the ongoing hostility between him and Chimaev, who recently mocked Costa’s remarks in response to the challenge.
Background on the disrupted matchup and escalating feud
The fight between Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev was originally set for October 2023 at UFC 294, but Costa withdrew after developing an elbow infection, leaving fans and fighters disappointed. Since then, both fighters have exchanged barbs publicly, heightening anticipation for a potential future bout.
Chimaev’s reaction to Costa’s prior statements ranged from amusement to mockery, illustrating the personal animosity between the two. Costa’s frustration appears fueled not only by the missed opportunity to fight but also by recent interactions involving Chimaev and Costa’s romantic partner.
Costa’s rationale for targeting Chimaev next
During the UFC 318 pre-fight press conference, Costa expanded on his motivations for calling out Chimaev, revealing that the conflict has a personal edge. Addressing the situation with Chimaev allegedly sending messages to his partner, Costa said:
“Everybody knows about that… After this fight, I’m going to send a message for him, but until then, you need to wait. My focus right now is on this guy [Kopylov] so I need to focus on him, but I have a plan after that. I have unfinished business with Chimaev. I’m going to face him sooner or later.” —Paulo Costa, UFC fighter
This statement showcases Costa’s strategic approach: prioritizing his current fight before reigniting the rivalry with Chimaev. The unresolved tension makes a future showdown seem inevitable.
Details from Costa’s interview reveal personal grievances fueling the feud
In a candid conversation with Ariel Helwani, Costa described Chimaev as his dream opponent, but his tone reflected anger and personal offense. Costa accused Chimaev of sending provocative messages to his girlfriend, Tamara Alves, which intensified his determination to face him:
“Chimaev [would be my dream fight at the White House]. Chimaev, yeah, yeah. This son of a b***h. I want to fight this guy… He sent a message for my girl, Tamara [Alves]. He acted like a woman. He tricked her, he said some bad s**t. He said something like, ‘I’m going to beat your husband and I’m going to do bad things,’ this, that, but he sent [the message to] her, not me.” —Paulo Costa, UFC fighter
These remarks highlight the personal nature of the conflict, blending professional rivalry with private insults and provocations.
Chimaev’s playful dismissiveness contrasts with Costa’s serious tone
Khamzat Chimaev responded to Costa’s provocations with sarcasm, seemingly downplaying the threat or intensity of Costa’s challenges. His teasing remarks include:
“Bro, what’s going on with you? Don’t start to cry please.” —Khamzat Chimaev, UFC fighter
This banter illustrates the sharp divide between Costa’s urgent framing of the feud and Chimaev’s mocking demeanor.
What lies ahead after UFC 318 for Costa and Chimaev
As Paulo Costa prepares to compete against Roman Kopylov, the spotlight remains on his proclaimed plan to confront Khamzat Chimaev afterward. Their unresolved issues and public exchanges suggest that once Costa concludes his current bout, the rivalry will escalate further.
This brewing confrontation is likely to attract widespread attention within the UFC community, potentially setting the stage for a highly charged matchup that combines intense competition with personal conflict, adding depth to the middleweight division’s ongoing storylines.
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 division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of June 10, 2025, he holds the 13th spot in the UFC middleweight rankings.
Q. Is Paulo Costa still fighting?
A. Paulo Costa returns after a year away and aims to regain top status in his weight class at UFC 318. The Brazilian fighter, known for knockout power, is currently facing a two-fight losing streak and will compete against Roman Kopylov this Saturday in New Orleans.
Q. What rank is Paulo Costa?
A. By June 10, 2025, he holds the 13th spot in the UFC middleweight rankings.
Q. Why did Paulo Costa pull out of UFC 294?
A. “They’re keeping him in hotels away from me,” Costa stated. He needed two surgeries to recover from a staph infection. White emphasized there was no possibility that Costa could compete because doctors hadn’t given medical clearance. “He is badly hurt and must treat his elbow,” White explained. “He has a staph infection.”