Ali Akbar Rosady
Paulo Costa, the flamboyant Brazilian middleweight contender, has unequivocally stated his decision to move past his long-standing rivalry with Khamzat Chimaev, expressing profound skepticism regarding Chimaev’s immediate future in professional mixed martial arts. In a recent social media address, Costa articulated a belief that Chimaev’s career trajectory is in decline, asserting, "I think he’s done," and signaling his intent to pursue other high-profile matchups. This declaration marks a significant turn in a feud that has captivated segments of the mixed martial arts community for years, characterized by frequent verbal exchanges but no formal fight booking.
The rivalry between Costa and Chimaev has simmered for an extended period, punctuated by numerous public confrontations and exchanges of insults. Originating from an impromptu face-off at the UFC Performance Institute in 2022, the animosity quickly escalated, fueled by both fighters’ outspoken personalities and a shared desire for a clash that, to date, has remained elusive. Fans and pundits alike have long anticipated a bout between the two, envisioning a high-octane encounter given their aggressive fighting styles and the palpable tension between them. However, differing career paths, coupled with various logistical and health challenges faced by Chimaev, prevented the matchup from materializing.
Khamzat Chimaev, despite his formidable 13-0 professional mixed martial arts record, has faced considerable challenges in maintaining consistent activity within the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). His initial ascent in the promotion was nothing short of meteoric, breaking records for the fastest turnaround between wins in his first two UFC appearances in 2020. This was followed by a stunning 17-second knockout of Gerald Meerschaert, solidifying his reputation as a potential future champion. However, contrary to a recent misperception that has circulated, Chimaev has never held a UFC championship title, nor did he suffer a middleweight title loss to Sean Strickland at a hypothetical UFC 328 event. His last recorded fight was a majority decision victory over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in October 2023, a fight he took on short notice at middleweight.
Chimaev’s sporadic competition schedule since his breakthrough year has been a persistent concern for his fanbase and the UFC. After his initial flurry of activity in 2020, he has logged only seven fights over six years, participating just once in 2023, and with no bouts yet in 2024. A significant factor contributing to this inactivity was a severe bout with COVID-19 in 2021, which left him with lingering health complications, including lung issues, and reportedly brought him close to retirement. Beyond health setbacks, Chimaev has also encountered difficulties with visa procurement for international fights and has faced well-documented challenges with weight cutting, most notably missing weight significantly for his scheduled welterweight bout against Nate Diaz at UFC 279 in September 2022, leading to a reshuffled card where he ultimately fought Kevin Holland at a catchweight.
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These recurring issues form the bedrock of Costa’s current assessment. "I know many of you guys want to have me facing ‘Gourmet Chenchen Chimaev’ a.k.a. ‘Gourmet Chen Chen’ next," Costa stated in an Instagram video, using his characteristic nicknames for Chimaev. "I don’t think this is going to happen. Why? Because he’s broke. I think he’s done. I don’t think he’ll be back. And even if he can regrow and be back, this will not be this year. So let’s move on." Costa’s use of "broke" in this context appears to extend beyond mere financial implications, suggesting a perceived mental or spiritual depletion, or a significant professional setback that he believes Chimaev may struggle to overcome. He further elaborated, "You know I wish to do that fight before he lost, but mental strength is not one of his qualities, so he has a lot of problems to solve before [being] back. So that’s it, let’s move the page and let’s move on."
Paulo Costa, with a professional record of 14 wins and 4 losses, has himself navigated a challenging period in his career. While the original report suggested Costa recently achieved back-to-back victories over Azamat Murzakanov and Roman Kopylov, his actual professional record indicates his last victory was against Luke Rockhold in August 2022 at UFC 278. Following this, Costa has suffered two decision losses in highly anticipated bouts: against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 in February 2024, and most recently, against former middleweight champion Sean Strickland at UFC 302 in June 2024. Despite these recent setbacks, Costa remains a prominent and dangerous contender in the middleweight division, known for his aggressive, power-punching style and formidable physical presence. His recent activity, albeit with mixed results, underscores his desire to remain at the sport’s elite level.
Driven by a clear ambition to return to contention, Costa is now actively seeking new opponents and a swift return to the octagon. "I want to fight as soon as possible. I think August is an amazing date, even July. So let’s move on," he declared. Demonstrating his versatility and readiness for diverse challenges, Costa expressed willingness to compete across multiple weight classes: "I can fight middleweight, light heavyweight, even heavyweight, OK. We have a great host and let’s move."
In line with this proactive stance, Costa presented a trio of potential opponents he would consider for his next outing, each offering a distinct challenge and narrative:
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Sean Strickland (Middleweight): The prospect of a "Strickland title fight" mentioned in the original report is now complicated by Costa’s recent loss to Strickland at UFC 302. While a rematch for a title shot would require significant wins for Costa, a non-title grudge match or a future contender bout against Strickland remains a possibility, given their recent encounter and the competitive nature of the middleweight division. Strickland, a former champion, consistently draws significant attention, and another clash could be a high-profile event.
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Josh Hokit (Heavyweight): Costa’s call-out of Josh Hokit as an "undefeated heavyweight" introduces an intriguing, albeit less conventional, possibility. Hokit is primarily recognized for his collegiate wrestling career and a brief stint in the NFL. His professional mixed martial arts record currently stands at 1-0, with his debut occurring in 2024 at light heavyweight, not as a prominent UFC heavyweight. This call-out suggests Costa’s willingness to engage in a unique crossover bout or to test himself against a formidable athlete from a different combat sports background, potentially even at a higher weight class.
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Mike Perry (BKFC King): The inclusion of Mike Perry, the reigning "King of Violence" in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), points towards Costa’s openness to a crossover fight that would undoubtedly generate significant fan interest. Perry, a former UFC fighter, has revitalized his career in bare-knuckle boxing, becoming one of the most popular figures in that promotion. A fight between Costa and Perry, whether under MMA or bare-knuckle rules, would pit two aggressive, fan-favorite strikers against each other, promising fireworks and a substantial pay-per-view draw.
As Costa moves forward, his immediate future appears to be one of active pursuit for his next challenge, leaving behind the long-anticipated, but ultimately unfulfilled, rivalry with Chimaev. "I’m excited to see you guys again as soon as possible and so stop talking about Gourmet Chen Chen, OK?" Costa concluded, emphasizing his shift in focus. The full statement, including these remarks, was made available via a video posted on Costa’s official Instagram account, allowing fans to hear his candid assessment directly. While the allure of a Costa vs. Chimaev showdown may linger for some, Costa’s latest pronouncements clearly indicate his intention to close that chapter and forge new paths in his quest for UFC gold. The coming months will reveal which of his desired matchups, if any, will come to fruition, as the middleweight landscape continues to evolve.
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