Middleweight contender Paulo Costa believes that a big win over former champion Robert Whittaker is enough to earn him a title shot.
Despite only riding a one-fight winning streak and not competing since 2022, #6 ranked Paulo Costa judges that he is just one win away from earning another shot at UFC middleweight glory.
The 14-2 powerhouse, who has been his typical jovial self throughout fight week, gets that opportunity when he faces former middleweight king Robert Whittaker this weekend in the co-main event of UFC 298.
Paulo Costa believes beating Whittaker is enough for a title shot
Paulo Costa has already squandered one chance to become UFC middleweight champion, losing to Israel Adesanya by second-round KO back in 2020 in a performance that was uncharacteristically flat for the Brazilian.
Yet the UFC rarely runs on meritocracy, with title opportunities often being awarded to those who bring more eyes to a PPV and dominate headlines, both of which apply to Costa without a doubt.
Speaking at the UFC 298 media day, Costa reaffirmed his belief that beating ‘The Reaper’ this weekend will “for sure” be enough to earn him a shot against current champ Dricus Du Plessis; who himself earned his shot after dispatching the Australian last year.
“After my fight with Whittaker, [title shot] for sure. I don’t see another way different than that – to go straight for the belt after beating Whittaker on Saturday. I have no other way to go. When you look at the whole division, you have a popular guy who fights the way that people want to see, that the people like to see. That’s me.”
“Beating him [means] I’m next in line,” says Costa, who is a sizable underdog against the former champion.
If Costa is to defeat the Australian fan favorite and earn himself a title shot, he says fighting for the belt in Brazil “would be perfect.”
Luckily, UFC 301 is the next scheduled event in his home nation, which takes place on May 4 and is yet to have a title fight announced.
Costa vs Whittaker goes down this Saturday at UFC 298.