Paulo Costa frustrated with delay in booking final fight on current UFC deal

Paulo Costa is growing impatient with the UFC's reluctance to book his final contracted fight. The Brazilian light heavyweight, who earned his shot at 205 pounds with an impressive third-round head-kick finish of previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 in April, has been waiting months for his next assignment despite signaling willingness to compete at middleweight or even heavyweight.

In a post on social media, "Borrachinha" expressed frustration that UFC matchmaker Hunter Campbell has repeatedly told him to wait without offering concrete options. "I want to fight. I don't want to wait," Costa wrote, noting that he has only one fight remaining on his contract and wants it scheduled soon.

Costa's urgency underscores a career resurgence after a difficult 2020-to-2024 stretch in which he lost four of five UFC bouts. The 35-year-old has now strung together consecutive victories over Kopylov and Murzakanov, reversing a downward trend that began following his second-round knockout loss to Israel Adesanya in a middleweight title fight at UFC 253. The delay in booking suggests the promotion may be uncertain where Costa fits in current divisional hierarchies, or may be holding him in reserve for future matchmaking needs—a common practice when fighters are near the end of their deals.