Ankalaev's Manager Pursues Paulo Costa Fight

Magomed Ankalaev's manager wants to see his client matched with Paulo Costa while heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg continues his recovery.

Ali Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie that the UFC has approached Ankalaev about fighting Costa on three separate occasions, though the bout has yet to materialize. Ankalaev is coming off a decision win over Bogdan Guskov in Abu Dhabi and remains in pursuit of another title shot despite the dull nature of that performance and his earlier knockout loss to Alex Pereira.

Costa's Self-Promotion Opens Door For Ankalaev Showdown

Abdelaziz praised Costa's ability to generate attention without crossing into negative territory. The manager believes Costa is a serious fighter despite how some fans perceive his antics, and he sees value in the matchup regardless of whether an interim belt is attached.

"Carlos Ulberg needs to take his time. He's the champion," Abdelaziz said, per MMA Junkie. "Paulo Costa said a lot of reckless things, and you know what? He does a good job to get people's attention. He's funny. He's witty. He's a good fighter, too."

Abdelaziz added that he believes Costa's chances of winning are limited but that the fight should happen either way. Costa has been vocal about moving to heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight and securing a title opportunity, though his claim to a championship bout is less clear than Ankalaev's.

The UFC has not announced a timeline for Ulberg's return or confirmed whether an interim title fight is under consideration.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Magomed Ankalaev’s manager wants to see him fight Paulo Costa