Paulo Costa, a former contender for the UFC middleweight title, has publicly accused Khamzat Chimaev of sending “nasty” messages to his girlfriend, adding a deeply personal dimension to their long-standing rivalry. This accusation comes as Costa prepares for his upcoming fight at UFC 318.
Costa is aiming to return to his winning ways this Saturday when he faces Roman Kopylov. Their clash will serve as the co-main event on a card headlined by the highly anticipated third bout between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier.
Costa`s last appearance in the Octagon was at UFC 302 last year, where he suffered a loss to former middleweight champion Sean Strickland. A victory at UFC 318 could significantly boost his standing, potentially positioning him for a title eliminator fight.
While Paulo Costa doesn`t have a direct stake in the outcome of the Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus du Plessis fight, he is intensely focused on finally settling his long-running dispute with Chimaev.
The Intensifying Rivalry Between Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev
The animosity between Costa and Chimaev dates back to UFC 294, where they were initially scheduled to fight. Costa withdrew from that bout due to injury, and Kamaru Usman stepped in, losing to Chimaev by majority decision.
Since their planned fight fell through, the tension between the two fighters has only grown. They have been exchanging barbs online for months, but according to Costa, Chimaev crossed a line by involving his girlfriend, turning what was once a professional rivalry into a deeply personal conflict.
During a press conference for UFC 318, Costa vocally expressed his strong dislike for Chimaev.
“I want to fight him very badly,” Costa stated. “I want to hurt him. It doesn’t matter if he won that fight [against Usman] or not. We need to fight. He sent very nasty things in my girlfriend’s Instagram DMs, so this is completely personal.”
He elaborated, “Dirty messages, like, ‘You should look for a better man,’ something like that. That’s not what a real, confident man would do. Why would he message her instead of me? He’s a coward. I get angry just hearing his name, so we absolutely need to fight.”
Costa confidently added, “I’m sure I’ll win my upcoming fight, and I’ll call his name, regardless of his own fight outcome. The only way this fight won’t happen is if he retires.”
Costa recently expressed a desire to fight Chimaev at the White House in 2026, envisioning it as part of the UFC`s planned July 4th event. Meanwhile, Chimaev, who secured a victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 last year, is slated to finally get his much-anticipated UFC middleweight title shot next month at UFC 319.
As of now, Chimaev has not publicly responded to Costa`s latest accusations. He is reportedly training intensely for his UFC 319 bout against Dricus du Plessis, having assembled an elite team to help him prepare for his bid for the middleweight championship.
Khamzat Chimaev`s Uncertain Future in the UFC
However, Costa`s hopes for a showdown with Chimaev face a potential obstacle following recent comments from another top contender in the division, Caio Borralho. Borralho, who has previously trained with Chimaev, recently stirred speculation by claiming he had heard rumors that Chimaev might consider retirement if he wins at UFC 319.
Chimaev has yet to address Borralho`s claims, appearing fully focused on his upcoming title fight. Nevertheless, Chimaev`s career has been marked by various health issues, which could indeed influence the longevity of his tenure in the UFC.
Should both Costa and Chimaev emerge victorious from their respective upcoming bouts, the stage could be set for their heated rivalry to finally culminate inside the Octagon.
