[ad_1]
Although he’s subsequent scheduled to face Robert Whittaker, Paulo Costa nonetheless has his sights set on Khamzat Chimaev.
Costa and Chimaev have a long-running feud that was speculated to get settled at UFC 294. Nevertheless, Costa was forced off that card resulting from damage, and as a substitute, Chimaev took on former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, profitable by choice.
Costa is now set to face Whittaker at UFC 298, and talking with The MMA Hour, “Borrachinha” defined why he’s going through the ex-champ as a substitute of Chimaev.
“I used to be attempting to battle Gourmand Chen Chen — Chimaev,” Costa stated. “I used to be attempting. Since I couldn’t battle, and he fought in opposition to Kamaru — he received, however he didn’t persuade anybody I don’t assume, me and the folks I discuss with, not less than, and a lot of the followers I don’t assume. I used to be not satisfied he’s the man, No. 1 contender. So I maintain attempting that battle, pushing for that battle. ‘OK guys, let’s make this battle occur,’ and what Hunter and the UFC guys stated he’s not going to battle till June or July or one thing like that. …
“So then I wanted to maneuver. They stated, ‘We now have Whittaker.’ I stated OK, let’s go.”
Costa and Chimaev have publicly feuded for over a yr, relationship again to an altercation between the two forward of UFC 279. Costa and Whittaker have additionally been linked as attainable opponents for a number of years, with the pair booked on two earlier events. Now, the 2 will lastly sq. off, and Costa believes that if he wins, a title shot could possibly be subsequent.
“We by no means know, however I’m supposed be the No. 1 contender,” Costa stated of the stakes for this matchup. “Both me or Whittaker, whoever wins, I believe. Whittaker is coming off a loss, however I believe that is an fascinating battle, and the scenario at middleweight proper now could be to determine who’s going to be subsequent in line.”
In 2020, Costa fought for the middleweight title, developing brief in opposition to Israel Adesanya at UFC 253. If he’s appropriate this time round, he’ll face the winner of the Sean Strickland–Dricus du Plessis matchup, which takes place on Jan. 20 at UFC 297. And if he wins the title, there’s just one battle he desires for his first title protection: Chimaev.
“My dream battle is for the belt in opposition to Chen Chen,” Costa stated. “I’ve no query about one battle, one matchup in opposition to Chimaev. I can guess the whole lot on me. I’m so assured in that battle.
“This could occur, it has to occur. However they can not drive [him]. You don’t know the way a lot all people from the UFC pressured, they really pressured Khamzat to battle me in Abu Dhabi. He [turned is down] thrice final yr. They put him within the nook and stated, ‘OK, so that you’re going to battle nobody when you don’t battle Paulo.’ They made him an excellent contract, like $2 million, to signal this deal. However Allah saved him. God saved him, only for now.”
First issues first, although, Costa has to get previous Whittaker at UFC 298. As he’s with Chimaev, “Borrachinha” is supremely assured the previous middleweight champion is however a stepping stone for his goals.
“I believe I’m going to catch him, punches or kicks, I don’t know,” Costa stated. “However I’ve a sense I’m going to get him on some motion that he can not see, and he’s going to sleep.”
UFC 298 takes place on Feb. 17 on the Honda Heart in Anaheim, Calif. It’s set to be headlined by a featherweight title battle between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria.
[ad_2]
Source link
