Paulo Costa Blasts UFC, Deletes Post Amid Deal Dispute

Paulo Costa ripped the UFC's current direction in a since-deleted social media post, intensifying a contract standoff that has left the surging light heavyweight contender unbooked.

Costa, who climbed into the light heavyweight top five after a third-round head kick finish of previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov, wrote on X that "the UFC seems lost. Lacking focus and direction. Fight cards are cobbled together from whatever is left over, and Dana White mixes up fighters' names; he appears more focused on boxing and his rivalry with Eddie Hearn than on the company he built." He added that "Volkov should be fighting for the Heavyweight title; great matchups aren't happening due to sheer incompetence. After all, empires often crumble from within." The post came down shortly after going up, but not before fans captured it.

Why Is Paulo Costa Feuding With the UFC?

Paulo Costa is fighting the UFC over money and matchmaking, not an opponent. According to Costa, the promotion keeps dangling interim title fights and five round main events at his current pay rate rather than giving him the standard three-round contest he's asking for. He has said he would take that fight at any weight class, a notable concession from a former middleweight title challenger who just proved he can bang with legitimate light heavyweights. Costa has only one fight left on his UFC contract, which gives him real leverage heading into any negotiation and explains why he's using his platform to pressure the promotion publicly instead of waiting quietly for a call.

The timing of his frustration lines up with recent UFC booking decisions. There have been strong rumors that the UFC's BMF title fight between Charles Oliveira and Diego Lopes at UFC 335 only came together after the promotion failed to get Costa a fight with Navajo Stirling done. Costa's complaint about executive focus also tracks with Dana White spending a recent press availability discussing a potential Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua boxing promotion rather than being able to speak accurately about his own UFC 332 headliner, Wang Cong.

What This Means for Costa's Next Fight and the Betting Markets

Paulo Costa's next fight remains unannounced, and that uncertainty is exactly the point of his public pressure campaign. A fighter coming off back-to-back wins, including a statement finish at 205 pounds, normally gets fast-tracked into a ranked matchup. Instead, Costa sits idle while the promotion reportedly offers him bouts that add risk, extra rounds or interim title stakes, without adding pay. For bettors, an unbooked top-five contender with one fight left on his deal is a market to watch rather than bet right now. Once a fight does get made, expect Costa to open as a live underdog or modest favorite depending on opponent given his power and finishing ability, but the real variable here is matchmaking leverage, not a betting line. If Costa gets the three-round fight he wants against a ranked name, sportsbooks will likely price him as competitive in almost any light heavyweight pairing given how he looked against Murzakanov. If the standoff drags on, the more relevant number for bettors is simply whether Costa fights again in the UFC at all before his contract runs out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Paulo Costa upset with the UFC?

Paulo Costa says the UFC keeps offering him interim title fights or five-round main events without additional pay, when he wants a standard three-round contest at any weight class.

How many fights does Paulo Costa have left on his UFC contract?

Paulo Costa has said he has only one fight remaining on his current UFC contract.

What was Paulo Costa's last fight?

Paulo Costa moved up to light heavyweight and finished previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov with a third-round head kick, earning a spot in the light heavyweight top five.