Paulo
Costa is eager to welcome Khamzat
Chimaev to light heavyweight.
Chimaev (15-0) won the middleweight title against Dricus Du
Plessis at UFC 319 last year. “Borz” is now scheduled to defend
his title against Sean
Strickland at UFC 328
on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Chimaev
has clearly expressed his interest in moving up to light
heavyweight soon after.
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Chimaev’s longtime foil Costa is waiting with open arms to welcome
him at light heavyweight. While a fight between the two is yet to
come to fruition, Costa and Chimaev have traded barbs with each
other on several occasions over the years. Costa believes a light
heavyweight clash against him with be even worse for Chimaev than a
middleweight bout would be. Having recently moved up to 205 pounds,
Costa considers himself even more dangerous there. “Borrachinha”
notes that he doesn’t have to lose any muscle mass for light
heavyweight. The Brazilian vows to make Chimaev’s light heavyweight
move “tragic.”
‘I’m a Monster’
“I just wish he comes to 205,” Costa told Submission Radio. “I’m going to be here with my
arms open, waiting for him… [205] is going to be even worse for
him. At 205, I’m a monster; I don’t need to burn any muscle… It’s
going to be tragic for him.”
Costa is coming off back-to-back upset with over surging Russian
prospects. Costa recently finished Azamat
Murzakanov in a light heavyweight tilt at UFC 327,
handing the previously undefeated prospect his first professional
loss. Costa says he is now open to juggling between middleweight
and light heavyweight.