Paulo Costa has put the UFC on the clock, saying it has 3 ways to resolve the ultimate battle on his present contract: e book a three-round mild heavyweight bout, pay him extra for 5 rounds, or launch him now. The Brazilian says he’ll face any 205-pound opponent, so long as the deal matches the phrases he says have been already agreed.
Paulo Costa, 35, has made his UFC contract dispute public once more, this time with a direct three-option proposal aimed toward UFC govt Hunter Campbell. In a publish dated September 18 from Las Vegas, Costa stated he has one battle left on his UFC deal and claimed his purse was set for a three-round contest. The previous middleweight title challenger stated he’s asking for that contracted format and is prepared to tackle any fighter on the UFC mild heavyweight roster.
Paulo Costa Offers UFC Three Choices Over Last Contract Combat
“Okay, I’m making this public and clear,” The Brazilian athlete wrote. “I’ve 1 battle left. On my contract The purse is about for 3 rounds, not 5. I’m asking for the 3-round battle that was already agreed on contract. It may be anybody on the UFC LHW roster.” Costa’s first choice is easy: e book his remaining bout over three rounds. There isn’t any opponent situation hooked up. He stated he’ll settle for anybody at mild heavyweight, which shifts the main focus from matchmaking to getting a date and contract construction agreed.
Costa‘s second choice issues a five-round battle. He stated he would settle for a main-event-length contest at 205 kilos in opposition to any opponent if it takes place in six weeks, however provided that the UFC raises his purse. “I’ll take it, BUT elevate my purse accordingly,” The 35-year-old wrote. “That’s the minimal that’s truthful, proper?”
The distinction is important. A regular UFC non-title battle often runs three five-minute rounds, whereas a foremost occasion or title bout can go 5 rounds. Costa’s argument is {that a} deal negotiated for quarter-hour mustn’t routinely turn into a 25-minute task with out revised pay.
Hunter Campbell is the UFC’s chief enterprise officer and a central determine in its fighter enterprise, together with contract negotiations and matchmaking alongside Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby. A Las Vegas-raised lawyer, Campbell joined the UFC in 2017 after working as Dana White’s private lawyer and later serving because the promotion’s basic counsel; he grew to become chief enterprise officer in 2019. In 2026 court docket testimony, Campbell described his position plainly: “I run the battle enterprise,” whereas White oversees the corporate as an entire.
In a separate post, Costa stated he wouldn’t take “5 rounds for the worth of three.” He beforehand claimed Campbell had not supplied him an ordinary three-round battle and had steered there may not be an obtainable opponent till subsequent yr. Costa has framed the dispute as a enterprise subject reasonably than a refusal to compete. He’s providing the UFC two methods to maintain him lively: honour the present three-round association, or make a brand new monetary settlement for a five-round reserving.
The ultimate alternative Costa gave the UFC was speedy launch from his contract. “C) Launch me from my contract now. Easy and clear,” Costa wrote, closing the publish by saying he hoped everybody understood. Costa has already stated he sought his launch a number of instances, together with after UFC 332 developments.
In accordance with his account, UFC officers declined and advised him to finish another battle. That remaining battle has turn into the central subject: Costa says he needs to complete the deal, however he doesn’t desire a five-round dedication on three-round cash. The UFC has not publicly responded to Costa’s newest phrases as of September 21.
Costa has not fought since his April UFC 327 win over Azamat Murzakanov, the place he reportedly knocked out the beforehand unbeaten Russian with a head kick. That victory positioned him among the many main names at mild heavyweight, but a follow-up contest has not been introduced. He had additionally campaigned for a spot within the UFC 332 title image earlier than that avenue closed. Costa has since made clear that he’s trying to find a significant battle, however his newest publish reveals he’s prepared to take any obtainable mild heavyweight if it will get his last contracted look settled.
