It looks like Marvin Vettori vs Paulo Costa would be the next big fight in the middleweight division
Top-ranked Italian middleweight Marvin Vettori called out number 2 ranked Brazilian middleweight Paulo Costa, at a backstage interview after his loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 263.
Mouthing several expletives, ‘The Italian Dream’ seemed determined to batter ‘Borrachinha‘.
More recently, it looks like the pair might square off soon, after managers of both the fighters appeared to have agreed to a fight.
The news was first reported by Brett Okamoto of ESPN, who confirmed the same. Okamoto wrote on Twitter:
“Asked MMA manager Wallid Ismail (@WallidJfc) for an update on Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA). He said the fight he wants to make and is pushing UFC for is Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori). Both talk trash, fun matchup. Wallid is trying to make it from his end.”
Now, the only confirmation that was left was from Vettori’s manager and Dominance MMA CEO Ali Abdelaziz.
In a matter of few minutes, Abdelaziz confirmed as well. He wrote:
“We ready just call @Mickmaynard2.”
It is worth noting that Mick Maynard is the UFC matchmaker.
Paulo Costa hasn’t fought since his devastating loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 253
An unbeaten Paulo Costa took on Israel Adesanya at UFC 253 for the middleweight championship. However, he was no match for ‘The Last Stylebender’, as he was knocked out in the second round of the fight.
That was the last time Costa stepped inside the Octagon. He was booked to face Robert Whittaker in April 2021, but pulled out due to flu. He was then booked to face Jared Cannonier in August 2021, which he once again pulled out of, due to payment issues.
As for Vettori, he is coming off a unanimous decision loss against Marvin Vettori at UFC 263. He has never been finished in his MMA career.
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