Paulo Costa snapped his three-year losing streak as a heavy underdog at UFC 318.
The one-time middleweight title challenger had lost four of his past five fights before facing Roman Kopylov at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Saturday night.
Expected to lose, Paulo Costa put on a vintage display to roll back the years, score multiple knockdowns and secure a unanimous decision victory.
Even the greatest fighter of all time was impressed by how ‘Borrachinha’ performed at UFC 318.
Jon Jones impressed by Paulo Costa at UFC 318
Former two-weight champion Jon Jones tweeted throughout the UFC 318 co-main event.
‘Bones’ was blown away by Costa’s kicks after watching him score a heavy knockdown in round one.
“Damn Costa’s kicks are looking freaking deadly tonight,” Jones wrote after the first five-minute frame.
He added at the end of round two: “This is the best I think I’ve ever seen him.”
Costa continued to dominate in round three to record his first win since outpointing Luke Rockhold at UFC 278 in August 2022.
Post-fight, he issued an X-rated call out to Khamzat Chimaev for sending ‘nasty’ messages to his girlfriend.
Paulo Costa receives advice from former champion
Michael Bisping called Paulo Costa ‘his own worst enemy’ as he offered him advice ahead of UFC 318.
The former UFC middleweight champion believes working on his mental game will help Costa get back on track after years of poor form.
“‘Mr. Inconsistent’, Paulo Costa, ‘Borrachinha’, who has kind of turned into a bit of a meme,” Bisping said during his UFC 318 prediction video.
“He’s a very funny guy to follow on social media. Some of the stuff that he posts is absolutely hilarious, but what’s not so funny are the performances inside of the Octagon.
“The reason he is losing is because it seems like a mental block… Paulo Costa is his own worst enemy.
“Athletically, physically, he’s very gifted, but I think he’s lacking a little bit upstairs. I don’t mean that as an insult. I mean, there’s a mental disconnect, [and] a sports psychologist would definitely help him.”