How Much is Left in the Tank for 'The Eraser?'

Paulo Costa burst into the UFC as an incredibly high prospect in the Middleweight Division. He had an impressive background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which paired well with his explosive striking. However, Costa’s career has plateaued more than ascended to where many thought he would. With recent losses and cancellations of fights, many wonder where the 34-year-old stands in the UFC.

​The start of his career had an incredible amount of hype as he stacked up wins quickly. The talented Brazilian took on multiple fights and delivered on all of them with numerous knockout finishes. The crowds would erupt as they believed they had a new serious contender in the Middleweight Division. Those beliefs came true when he was given the chance at the title against Israel Adesanya back in September of 2020. While he did lose the fight, it was supposed to be a solidifying moment for his place amongst the division's most elite fighters. However, this fight could be viewed as the start of his decline. Since then, he has strung along some more fights but has received more losses than wins. Including losses to former champions Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland.

This was concerning as it showed that Costa has trouble adapting against elite fighters, which ultimately limits his explosive power. At this point, many fans were questioning the longevity of his career. He scored a much-needed rebound win against Roman Kopylov, which added some much-needed juice to his confidence. This fight got the fans excited for this small comeback and eager to see what he would do next. With the announcement of his Fight at UFC 326 in March against Brunno Ferreira, it was like he had caught a second wind. Unfortunately, Costa has recently withdrawn from this fight for undisclosed reasons. This frustrates the fans and puts Costa in a bad position. It brings a lot of mistrust to a fighter, especially during what looked like a bit of a comeback.

​Ultimately, Paulo Costa is in a tough situation. He has taken on crucial fights but has not delivered in the current moments of his career. At 34 years old, he does not have too much time to get to where he wants to be. Truthfully, the fight that was supposed to happen in March could have seriously aided. However, he now finds himself moving backwards rather than forwards once again.