Don’t miss the electrifying middleweight showdown between Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. Get all the details and fight summary here!
Paulo Costa is set to take on Khamzat Chimaev in a highly-anticipated matchup at UFC 294. The event will be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 21st.
The announcement of the fight was made by Dana White on Wednesday, and it has already generated a lot of excitement among MMA fans. Costa, known as ‘Borrachinha’, couldn’t resist making a quirky remark on Twitter about his initial opponent.
Costa was originally scheduled to face Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City. However, due to a change in matchmaking, Aliskerov will now be fighting Nassourdine Imavov at UFC 294 instead. Costa took to Twitter to subtly allude to the fact that Aliskerov is relatively new to the UFC compared to him.
The Brazilian middleweight star seemed unfazed by the change in opponents as he prepares to face the highly-touted Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev is coming off a quick submission win over Kevin Holland at UFC 279 and has gained a reputation for his dominant performances in the octagon. His only loss so far was a unanimous decision victory over Gilbert Burns.
For Costa, a win against Chimaev could mark his second consecutive victory, following his unanimous decision win over Luke Rockhold at UFC 278 in August 2022. Costa had previously suffered back-to-back losses against Israel Adesanya and Marvin Vettori.
Both fighters are eager to make their mark in the middleweight division, and their showdown promises to be an electrifying affair. Chael Sonnen, while speaking to Ariel Helwani, had predicted that the Costa vs. Chimaev fight would serve as the co-main event at UFC 294. Sonnen’s prediction has now been confirmed, as UFC 294’s lineup includes Costa vs. Chimaev as the co-main event.
During an episode of The MMA Hour, Sonnen shared his insights on the fight, stating that it will be a three-round co-main event in Abu Dhabi. He also mentioned the relevance of Islam Makhachev being on top of the bill, as he is expected to fight the winner of the Charles Oliveira vs. Beniel Dariush matchup.
This highly-anticipated matchup between Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev has captured the attention of MMA fans worldwide. The two fighters will undoubtedly put on a thrilling display of skill and determination in their quest to climb the ranks of the middleweight division.
Fight Summary
| Fighters | Result |
|---|---|
| Paulo Costa vs. Khamzat Chimaev | TBD |
Key Points
- Paulo Costa will face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 on October 21st in Abu Dhabi.
- Costa’s initial opponent, Ikram Aliskerov, will now fight Nassourdine Imavov.
- Chimaev is coming off a quick submission win over Kevin Holland.
- Costa aims to secure his second consecutive victory after defeating Luke Rockhold.
- The fight between Costa and Chimaev is expected to be the co-main event at UFC 294.
reference: www.sportskeeda.com
