It has been five months since Paulo Costa last competed inside the Octagon. The Brazilian moved up to light heavyweight and ended Azamat Murzkanov’s undefeated run at UFC 327. However, things have been pretty gloomy for Costa since then, as he has made his frustration very public over his inability to get another fight booked.
In August, Costa turned down a short-notice opportunity to face Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Abu Dhabi, citing the lack of any additional financial incentive despite the difficult circumstances. His attempts to land an interim light heavyweight title fight at UFC 332 were also turned down by the promotion.
Costa even asked the UFC to release him from his current deal, but the company shut that request down as well. That led the Brazilian to take to social media and reveal that he has just one fight remaining on his current UFC contract while also sharing some details about the deal.
Costa claims his final fight is stipulated to be a three-rounder, but if the UFC wants him to compete in a five-round bout, he believes the money should reflect that. Now, the Brazilian is even considering making his heavyweight debut to get that final fight and potentially find a way out of his contract.
Paulo Costa Willing to Face Sergei Pavlovich If Alex Pereira Doesn’t Get the Fight
The former middleweight title challenger took to X to call out none other than Sergei Pavlovich at 265 pounds if his demands are met. He wrote, “If Alex isn’t want to fight Sergei Pavlovich put me in. 3 rds. 6 weeks.”
The demand comes amid rumors of Pereira and Pavlovich potentially being booked next, with both fighters teasing fight news. Moreover, Dana White has confirmed that he will announce the Brazilian’s next outing during the UFC 332 KICK stream.
If Alex isn’t want to fight Sergei Pavlovich put me in. 3 rds. 6 weeks .
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) October 1, 2026
ALSO READ: Dana White Shuts Down Alex Pereira Rematch Calls and Explains Josh Hokit’s UFC 334 Title Shot
After missing out on an immediate rematch with Gane for the undisputed title at UFC 334 or a grudge match against Josh Hokit, Pavlovich could be a potential option for “Poatan” as he continues chasing his triple-champion aspirations.
However, Costa’s demand is certainly ambitious considering the size difference between him and Pavlovich. The Russian regularly competes at the upper end of the heavyweight limit and has spent his entire UFC career fighting at 265 pounds.
Costa, meanwhile, spent most of his career at middleweight, much like Pereira before the Brazilian made the move up to light heavyweight and picked up his first win in the division.
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Making another major jump in weight on short notice could also backfire, as Pereira found out against Gane at UFC Freedom 250 when he was stopped in the second round. With White pushing back against Costa’s claims and saying that every fighter, including Costa, has been offered three fights per year, the Brazilian’s attempts to finally get out of his UFC contract could become even more complicated in the coming days.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
