Paulo Costa calls out UFC over stalled fight booking

Paulo Costa says the UFC has refused to book him since his knockout win over Azamat Murzakanov in April, leaving him in limbo as he tries to secure the last fight on his current deal.

The Brazilian middleweight, who moved up to 205 pounds for the first time at UFC 327 and stopped Murzakanov with a third-round head kick, took to social media Monday to air his frustration. "Since I defeated Azamat in April, I have been looking for the next fight," Costa wrote on X, per MMA Mania. "I've eventually opened the door to fight at heavyweight. UFC told me to wait … wait … Here we are, it's already July and I still looking to fight someone else at light heavyweight, middleweight or even heavyweight, but the answer from UFC by Hunter Campbell is the same: 'Wait.'"

Costa's contract situation mirrors 2022 standoff

Costa added that he wants to compete soon but believes the promotion is stonewalling him for undisclosed reasons. "I want to fight I don't want to wait," he said. "I have just one more fight at my contract and I want this fight happen soon, but for some reason they don't." The former title challenger previously sat out 18 months between August 2022 and February 2024 while negotiating a new contract, eventually securing a deal worth over $1 million per fight. Now with one bout remaining on that agreement, Costa finds himself in a similar holding pattern.

Since re-signing, the UFC has matched Costa exclusively against undefeated Russian contenders — Roman Kopylov in 2024 and Murzakanov this spring — rather than high-profile opponents who could position him for another run at the belt. Costa has offered to fight at middleweight, heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight, or heavyweight to expedite his booking. His camp expects the promotion will hold off on marquee matchups until a new contract is in place, but Costa's history suggests any renegotiation could drag into 2027.

UFC 327 took place at the Kaseya Center in Miami on April 11. No timetable has been announced for Costa's return.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Paulo Costa calls out UFC for refusing to book him: ‘I want to fight, I don’t want to wait’