UFC 318 could mark a crossroads for one underperforming contender who was once tipped for great things by Dana White.
Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is currently back in Louisiana for the first time in over a decade, and for good reason.
The Octagon is in New Orleans for local and global favorite Dustin Poirier’s farewell. After 18 years as an active MMA fighter, the gloves will be hung up after Poirier fights Max Holloway at UFC 318 for the symbolic BMF title.
As always, the main event isn’t the only storyline that will be on display come fight night. And among the most intriguing is the return of a once-undefeated phenom whose title hopes have fallen flat.
Paulo Costa has not delivered on Dana White’s lofty expectations
Not many would have predicted the Paulo Costa downfall that has happened in recent years, not least Dana White.
The UFC CEO was among those touting ‘Borrachinha’ for big things when he was a fast-rising and undefeated up-and-comer a number of years ago. He notably had glowing praise for Costa after he knocked out veteran contender and winner of The Ultimate Fighter Uriah Hall at UFC 226 in 2018.
“I think that kid is the next big Brazilian star,” White said at the post-fight press conference. “He’s on his way. Good looking, incredible physique and fights like an animal.”
In his next fight, the then-undefeated middleweight continued to prove White correct, with Costa beating Yoel Romero in a memorable Fight of the Night war at UFC 241 in 2019.
Remarkably, though, Costa has had his hand raised just once in the six years since. He has lost four of his last five fights, including his most recent two against Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland.
A lackluster performance against ‘Tarzan’ last year left many writing Costa off. But the 34-year-old vowed to return to his aggressive former self next time out — a promise that he will look to deliver on at UFC 318 this Saturday.
Israel Adesanya sends Paulo Costa a wake-up call for UFC 318
The man responsible for starting Costa’s downward spiral was Israel Adesanya, and the former two-time champion recently had some tough love for his former adversary.
Five years after Adesanya knocked out Costa at UFC 253, ‘The Last Stylebender’ has urged the Brazilian to “get serious” and perform to the best of his capabilities following a lengthy run of inconsistency.
“Costa! Show up, man! Just show up and f—– show them,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “Costa has got the goods, but I don’t know. Who is he training with now?
“Costa just needs to get serious again. Costa is fun, he is entertaining to watch…(but) just show some balls, man. Go back to who you were before you fought me.
“Take it more seriously. Just f— everything else,” Adesanya continued. “I do like Costa. I don’t think he is a bad guy. But again, just show some balls. Get back to being serious. Show up to fight. He’s had so many — like, once he didn’t make weight. Just show some balls, bro. Be motivated, be disciplined.”
Costa is tasked with defending his No. 13 middleweight ranking against Roman Kopylov in the co-main event of UFC 318 on July 19.