Costa Says UFC Rejected Interim Title Bid For 332

Paulo Costa claims the UFC rejected his pitch to fight for an interim heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight title at UFC 332.

Costa, who is on the final bout of his current UFC deal, posted on X that he offered to compete for a 205-pound interim belt at the October 3 card in Salt Lake City. The promotion declined, per MMA Mania. UFC 332 is now headlined by Natalia Silva versus Wang Cong for the vacant women's flyweight title, a matchup that became available only after the promotion stripped Valentina Shevchenko of her record-breaking reign due to injury.

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Costa Questions UFC's Inconsistent Title Policy

Costa pointed out the inconsistency in how the organization handles injured champions. "UFC stripped Valentina out from her Belt due injury. [Yet] Carlos Ulberg is injured and MAYBE fight second semester 2027," he wrote. The Brazilian suggested the UFC's refusal stems from his contract status. With one fight left on his deal, the promotion is unlikely to let a potential free agent near championship gold, especially after two 205-pound titleholders relinquished the belt in the past three years.

"The UFC doesn't have a consistent standard of behavior or set of rules," Costa added. He told fans he plans to fulfill his contract with a three-round bout and test the open market. Costa stopped Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 in April and has openly criticized the promotion's fighter pay practices while negotiating his next contract.

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to UFC 332 on Ticketmaster →

UFC 332 takes place October 3 in Salt Lake City. Costa's next opponent has not been announced.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Paulo Costa: UFC refused to book interim heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight title fight for UFC 332