Paulo Costa: Fighting me at 205 would be ‘tragic’ for Khamzat 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 he’s hoping to face a UFC champion next.

“Borrachinha” does not rule out going back to middleweight to face that division’s 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 “Borz” also decides to move up.

“I wish he comes to 205,” Costa told Submission Radio. “I’m gonna be here with my arms open, waiting for him.”

Costa, however, advised his longtime rival that this match likely wouldn’t end well for him at a heavier division.

“Oh man, this is going to be even worse for him,” Costa said. “On 205, I’m a monster, you know? I don’t need to burn any muscle. I don’t need to sacrifice any muscle for my body to make 185. At 205, I have full secret juice power. Yeah, that’s gonna be tragic for him. Tragic.”

Costa’s future is not set on stone yet. Even though he says light heavyweight is “a good place to stay” and his body will be “even more adapted” if his next bout is in this division, he’s 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 “Borrachinha” sees their rivalry being a modern version of classic 205-pound rivalries such as Wanderlei Silva vs. Rampage Jackson.

“I think we need that,” Costa said. “In my mind, I’m gonna bring this right now. I’m the new blood to this [division]. But Alex [Pereira] did very well as well. He just needed somebody, to have an opponent, but now he’s a heavyweight.”