Paulo Costa says he is ready to get back inside the Octagon, but the UFC has yet to give him an opponent.
After an impressive light heavyweight debut earlier this year, the Brazilian believes he should already have another fight booked. Instead, he says he continues to receive the same response from the promotion.
Costa says UFC keeps telling him to wait
Costa earned a third-round head kick TKO victory over the previously unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 in April. The win marked a successful move to the light heavyweight division and appeared to put him in position for a quick return.
According to Costa, that has not happened.
In a post on X, the former middleweight title challenger revealed that he has been asking for another fight for months. He also said he has offered to compete in three different weight classes if it helps get him back into action.
“Since I defeated Azamat in April, I have been looking for the next fight,”
“I’ve eventually opened the door to fight at heavyweight. UFC told me to wait …wait “
Costa added that time continues to pass without any progress.
“Here we are, it’s already July and I still looking to fight someone else at light heavyweight, middleweight or even heavyweight, but the answer from UFC by Hunter Campbell is the same : ‘Wait.’”
Contract situation could be slowing things down
Costa also pointed to his current contract, saying he has only one fight remaining on his deal and wants that bout to happen as soon as possible.
“I want to fight I don’t want to wait,”
“I have just one more fight at my contract and I want this fight happen soon, but for some reason they don’t.”
The situation is familiar territory for Costa. Earlier in his UFC career, he spent a lengthy stretch on the sidelines while negotiating a new agreement with the promotion. After those talks, he reportedly secured a significantly improved contract.
Now, with only one fight left on that deal, Costa finds himself waiting again despite coming off a highlight-reel finish. While he has made it clear he is willing to compete at middleweight, light heavyweight, or even heavyweight, no matchup has been announced.