Paulo Costa says he needs to maintain his choices open as his UFC deal winds down, and that features a doable struggle with Mike Perry if the MVP is keen to make it occur. In a current interview, Costa stated Perry “can be an awesome struggle” and floated a catchweight round 84 kilos, whereas additionally saying he isn’t in a rush to resume except the provide is correct.
Paulo Costa Opens Door to Mike Perry Battle Whereas UFC Future Stays Unclear
Costa’s feedback land at a second when he’s already speaking about what comes subsequent and maintaining a tally of MVP on Netflix to face Mike Perry. Talking in an unique interview with Low Kick MMA, due to the assistance of Compare.bet, Paulo Costa defined:
“There’s a weight distinction, however I feel we might meet [Mike Perry] someplace round 84 kilos. Mike Perry has been knocking lots of people out, each in BKFC and MMA. He’s reinvented himself. I’d like to try this struggle. Now, I don’t know if the UFC would permit it. We’re speaking with the UFC to know what my subsequent struggle might be, however I need to hold my choices open.
“I nonetheless solely have one struggle left on the contract and I haven’t renewed but. It’s not likely in my curiosity to resume proper now except a spectacular provide is available in. There’s no level renewing only for the sake of renewing. There’s additionally the difficulty of contract length. A contract doesn’t solely expire primarily based on the variety of fights, but in addition by time. If I’m not mistaken, my contract time period expired in March. I would like to verify correctly as a result of perhaps I’m already free even earlier than the following struggle.“
“I’ve one struggle left on this contract,” and added that he needs to see how negotiations play out earlier than committing to a brand new deal. He additionally stated, “The UFC already wished to resume the contract. We’re seeing if we do yet one more after which sit down to barter,” which suggests the following reserving might form each his future and his bargaining place.
On Twitter he added:
“I’ve 3 choices proper now at ufc :1. Battle for 185 belt – Strickland rematch
2 .struggle at heavyweight weight Hokit
3 . Ask for ufc launch me of my final struggle contract and go face Mike “The Platinum” Perry at Netflix…
Mike Perry is my favourite match proper now.”
The Mike Perry concept is the half that can seize consideration. Costa known as Perry “an awesome struggle” and stated Perry has been “knocking lots of people out” in BKFC and MMA, including that Perry “has reinvented himself.”
Costa additionally made clear that he doesn’t need to signal away leverage simply to remain busy. “It’s not likely in my curiosity to resume proper now except a spectacular provide is available in,” he stated, adding that there’s “no level renewing only for the sake of renewing”. He additional stated contract size is a part of the difficulty, explaining that an settlement can expire by time in addition to by variety of fights, and claimed, “If I’m not mistaken, my contract time period expired in March,” although he stated he nonetheless wants to verify that correctly.
UFC offers are sometimes tied to each struggle rely and timing, and fighters can attain free company sooner than followers anticipate if the calendar runs out earlier than the fights do. Costa’s remarks match his long-running posture towards the promotion: he has beforehand stated he needs higher phrases and has talked earlier than about exploring life after the UFC as soon as his deal ends. For now, although, his newest feedback recommend a easy place: yet one more UFC struggle might occur, however he’s already weighing a wider set of decisions.
Costa enters the dialogue off a robust run within the UFC, the place he beat Roman Kopylov in July 2025 earlier than stopping Azamat Murzakanov by third-round knockout at UFC 327 in April 2026, a consequence that boosted his standing throughout two weight lessons. Perry, in the meantime, has stayed lively exterior the UFC and constructed his identify in BKFC, the place his profile has grown via knockout wins and a run that included a victory over Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82 in October 2025. Most just lately, Perry defeated Nate Diaz in MVP reside on Netflix.
On the heart of all this can be a fighter making an attempt to make use of his last stretch of leverage effectively. Costa’s stance is blunt, and his goal checklist is wider than a typical UFC path would recommend, with Mike Perry now a part of the dialog. The following transfer will probably inform the story: a UFC bout, a brand new deal, or a push towards one thing exterior the cage equivalent to MVP on Netflix.
