Brazilian middleweight contender Paulo Costa is aiming for a notable fight against former champion Dricus du Plessis by the end of 2025, characterizing the South African as an “unpredictable” and formidable adversary after du Plessis’ recent defeat to Khamzat Chimaev.
Paulo Costa Targets Dricus Du Plessis
The 34-year-old Paulo Costa, who is currently positioned 13th in the UFC middleweight rankings, recently made a comeback with a unanimous decision win over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318 in July. This victory was significant, marking his first win in almost three years after a challenging stretch where he posted a 1-4 record in his last five bouts.
In an interview with Submission Radio, Paulo Costa expressed his desire to face du Plessis instead of pursuing rematches with veterans like Israel Adesanya or Sean Strickland. “Dricus is a better option because he’s recently fought for the title,” Costa remarked. He elaborated his rationale: “He’s highly unpredictable. He poses a tough challenge in the octagon, honestly. Khamzat Chimaev was aware of this – that’s why he kept him in control for so long. Even in the final round, Dricus remained a threat, and Chimaev was hesitant to engage.”
Costa critiqued Chimaev’s grappling-focused strategy during his UFC 319 title match against du Plessis, in which the new champion dominated the fight on the ground for over 21 minutes out of the 25-minute duration. “He merely held on to his opponent for 25 minutes. That was dreadful,” Costa remarked about Chimaev’s performance.
“A fight is always a fight, you know, but yeah, we can battle standing up or perhaps on the ground. I haven’t given that much thought yet. I haven’t stopped to devise any strategy. I haven’t consulted anyone about it yet. I’m just biding my time. When they say, ‘It’s that guy,’ I’ll say, ‘Alright, let’s do this.’ And then I’ll formulate my plan with my coach and team.”
The timing seems advantageous for Costa, who indicated his desire to compete again within 2025. “I will fight this year. I still have one more fight in 2025, before Christmas,” he shared with Submission Radio. Costa proposed November or early December as potential times for the matchup, depending on negotiations with UFC matchmakers.
Costa conveyed assurance that his enhanced relationship with UFC officials would lead to promising fight opportunities. “I’ve stopped at odds with the UFC. Now we are allies. Now we operate together,” he clarified. “I conveyed this to Hunter [Campbell] and Dana [White]: ‘Hey folks, now we’re partners. Let’s collaborate.’ So I’m in a good place. I’m relaxed, right? I’ll let them handle that, and they’ll deliver an exciting match.’
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 18: Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa celebrates winning his fight against Israel Adesanya of Nigeria by submission during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Du Plessis, who maintained the middleweight title for over a year prior to his loss to Chimaev, is currently leading the division rankings despite his latest setback. The ex-champion has stated his goal to regain another title shot.
The Brazilian’s renewed ambition follows a tumultuous phase that involved conflicts with UFC management and an extended break from fighting. His readiness to challenge du Plessis, rather than opting for less daunting opponents, highlights his determination to confront top-tier fighters as he seeks to return to title contention.
While there has yet to be an official confirmation for the anticipated Costa-du Plessis bout, both fighters seem eager to return to the ring before the year concludes, potentially leading to what could be one of the most captivating middleweight encounters of late 2025.
