Costa: Smaller Yoel Romero easier fight than Chris Weidman

While it has yet to be made official, there are plans in place to have top-ranked middleweight contenders Paulo Costa and Yoel Romero throw hands at the upcoming UFC 230 pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for Sat., Nov. 3, 2018 inside Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The bout came as a surprise to the Brazilian, who used his destruction of Uriah Hall at UFC 226 (watch it) to campaign for a crack at former 185-pound champion Chris Weidman. “All American,” however, appears to have other plans.

That’s just fine with “The Eraser,” because Romero is probably the easier opponent.

“Actually, the two are very similar, so it does not change the preparation so much,” Costa told AG Fight. “I think Romero is even a bit easier because he is smaller in size and reach. With that, I’ll be able to hit him more easily, I’ll find him more easily.”

As a MMAthematician, I should point out that Romero creamed Weidman at UFC 205.

The decision to have Costa battle Romero also puts the kibosh on the Cuban’s plans to vacation at light heavyweight. I guess with Daniel Cormier unwilling to defend his belt against “Soldier of God,” and both Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson out of action for separate reasons, the allure of doing work at 205 pounds quickly dissipated.

Costa (12-0) has never been to a decision in his combat sports career. Similarly, Romero (13-3) has 11 knockouts in 13 wins. I think it’s safe to say that if and when these two finally hook ‘em up, they’ll need a good supply of IV bags smelling salts.