Paulo Costa’s ongoing drama with the UFC just hit a boiling point. The promotion reportedly shelved an interim 205-pound title fight for UFC 332, flat-out denied Costa’s request to compete for the belt, and then rejected his plea for release from his contract. This isn’t just about a fight, it’s about a star feeling completely stuck and questioning the whole game.
Stuck in Limbo: The Interim Title Drama
Remember how Valentina Shevchenko was supposed to face Natalia Silva on the October 3 card? Well, a gnarly ligament injury to her back and shoulders forced her to vacate the title. So, Wang Cong stepped in to face Silva for the vacant belt, and that’s the new main event for UFC 332. But here’s the kicker: with champion Carlos Ulberg sidelined after ACL surgery, Costa wanted to jump in and fight for the interim light heavyweight title. The UFC was reportedly struggling to find a new main event, so it felt like a no-brainer. Costa is clearly frustrated, saying, “I’m sad because I think we could have given a much better fight card going on for the Salt Lake City fans. I don’t think fans are so happy, I’m not happy, but it’s not about me.” You gotta feel for the guy; he sees an opportunity for a killer fight, and it gets shot down.
Asking for an Out, Getting Shut Down
This isn’t Costa’s first rodeo with contractual headaches. Back in July, he turned down a short-notice opportunity to face Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Abu Dhabi. Why? He cited a lack of extra financial incentive given the brutal circumstances: less than two weeks’ notice, a massive trip, and a five-round main event. He felt the offer just wasn’t worth it. Now, after the interim title rejection, he went for the nuclear option: asking for his release. And what did the UFC say? He revealed on The Ariel Helwani Show, “We already asked to be released but they refused. They said, ‘No, we’re not going to release you. You need to do one more at least.’” He’s asked a “couple of times,” most recently “days ago.” Costa made it clear he’s a professional, he just wants the biggest fights against the biggest names, especially with only one fight remaining on his current deal.
Where Does “Borrachinha” Go From Here?
The lack of movement for Costa since his win over Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 in April is wild. He says he’s been asking to fight since May, in June, July, and August, only to be told to wait. The UFC’s excuse? “Maybe because the light heavyweight division is a little bit uncertain; it didn’t have too much fighters available.” Combine that with the lowball short-notice offer for Abu Dhabi, and it’s clear Costa isn’t feeling valued. With just one fight left on his deal and the UFC holding him tight, what’s next for Paulo Costa is anyone’s guess. It’s clear the fans, and “Borrachinha” himself, are ready for action. Let’s hope the UFC figures this out and gets one of their biggest names back in the cage soon.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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