Ex-Rams DE explains why the Ty Simpson pick was actually smart
Chris Long believes Rams' Ty Simpson pick is a smart long-term strategy.
Paulo Costa recently knocked out Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 and is open to fighting Khamzat Chimaev at light heavyweight. Costa warned that facing him at 205 pounds would be 'tragic' for Chimaev.
Paulo Costa was very successful in his move to light heavyweight, dismantling previously unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov for a third-round knockout earlier this month at UFC 327, and heâs hoping to face a UFC champion next.
âBorrachinhaâ does not rule out going back to middleweight to face that divisionâs king Khamzat Chimaev, who puts his belt on the line on May 9 against Sean Strickland at UFC 328, but he would gladly welcome him to the 205-pound division if âBorzâ also decides to move up.
âI wish he comes to 205,â Costa told Submission Radio. âIâm gonna be here with my arms open, waiting for him.â
Costa, however, advised his longtime rival that this match likely wouldnât end well for him at a heavier division.
âOh man, this is going to be even worse for him,â Costa said. âOn 205, Iâm a monster, you know? I donât need to burn any muscle. I donât need to sacrifice any muscle for my body to make 185. At 205, I have full secret juice power. Yeah, thatâs gonna be tragic for him. Tragic.â
Costaâs future is not set on stone yet. Even though he says light heavyweight is âa good place to stayâ and his body will be âeven more adaptedâ if his next bout is in this division, heâs open to moving back to 185 pounds. Costa also volunteered to face Josh Hokit at the UFC White House, on June 14, if Derrick Lewis withdraws from the card.
Chimaev remains his No. 1 target for now, though, and âBorrachinhaâ sees their rivalry being a modern version of classic 205-pound rivalries such as Wanderlei Silva vs. Rampage Jackson.
âI think we need that,â Costa said. âIn my mind, Iâm gonna bring this right now. Iâm the new blood to this [division]. But Alex [Pereira] did very well as well. He just needed somebody, to have an opponent, but now heâs a heavyweight.â
Paulo Costa stated that fighting him at 205 pounds would be 'tragic' for Khamzat Chimaev.
Khamzat Chimaev is scheduled to defend his title against Sean Strickland on May 9 at UFC 328.
Paulo Costa achieved a third-round knockout victory over Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327.
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