One-time middleweight title challenger, Paulo Costa has confirmed a battle between himself and undefeated welterweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev, is at present focused for UFC 294 on October 21. in Abu Dhabi, UAE – claiming he’s assured the long-awaited pairing lastly takes place.
Costa, the present #5 ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since August of final 12 months, that includes most lately on the principle card of UFC 278, defeating former undisputed titleholder, Luke Rockhold in an in depth, unanimous choice victory.
As for Chimaev, the AllStars MMA staple managed to enhance to 12-0 as an expert again in September at UFC 279, defeating current winner, Kevin Holland in a dominant, opening spherical D’Arce choke submission success.
Linked with a possible return as quickly as Could to draft right into a co-main occasion slot – which is now occupied by Gilbert Burns, and Belal Muhammad – the UFC had reportedly supplied Costa a lightweight heavyweight battle former undisputed titleholder, Jan Blachowicz.
Paulo Costa assured October battle with Khamzat Chimaev takes place
With the heralded battle between the duo failing to return to fruition, Costa claimed the UFC have been making an attempt to e book him in a battle towards the undefeated, Chimaev for a UFC 294 pay-per-view occasion in October on ‘Struggle Island’ on the Etihad Enviornment.
“I feel October is so lengthy – thus far,” Paulo Costa mentioned of a battle with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 throughout an look on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. “That’s why I used to be so blissful when the UFC wished me to battle Jan (Blachowicz) at 205 [pounds]. As a result of it’s a lot much less work to chop weight, ? And this doesn’t impact my weight division at 185 [pounds]. So, I used to be unhappy when Jan declined.”
“I feel this battle (with Khamzat Chimaev) is gonna occur,” Paulo Costa defined. “I’m bothering the UFC to schedule a battle earlier than [October] – like in June. I feel they [the UFC] have some settlement with Abu Dhabi or Dubai authorities, so they should push a giant battle for there.”
