Paulo Costa

Paulo Costa is a prominent Brazilian mixed martial artist competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight division, known for his striking prowess and aggressive fighting style. After achieving an undefeated 8-0 record in his initial professional mixed martial arts career, which began in February 2012, Paulo Costa demonstrated his exceptional striking prowess and aggressive fighting style. Dominating his early opponents with seven knockout victories and one submission win, Costa captured the vacant Jungle Fight Middleweight Championship in 2016, successfully defending the title later that same year. His impressive trajectory led to his UFC debut on March 11, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 106, where he immediately made an impact with a first-round TKO victory over Garreth McLellan, earning his first Performance of the Night award.

Following this, he reignited his winning form, earning another Fight of the Night award with a unanimous decision victory over Luke Rockhold at UFC 278 in 2022. Continuing to compete at the elite level, Costa recently demonstrated his sustained dominance with a unanimous decision win against Roman Kopylov at UFC 318 in 2025. As of August 2025, Paulo Costa remains a formidable contender, holding the #13 position in the highly competitive UFC middleweight rankings. His career is characterized by an unwavering aggressive fighting style and a remarkable track record of decisive victories against elite competition, solidifying his status as a premier mixed martial artist.