UFC middleweight Paulo Costa declares himself the new face of Brazilian MMA

While longtime veterans such as Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, Demian Maia and Lyoto Machida aren’t quite ready to join Vitor Belfort on the retirement front, their respective careers could be coming to and end in the next few years.

Their words, not mine.

Indeed, it’s a new age in Brazilian mixed martial arts (MMA), and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight bruiser Paulo Costa is leading the way. That’s according to “Borrachinha” himself, who took to Twitter to declare himself the new face of Brazilian MMA.

Costa has been tearing it up in his short time inside the Octagon, winning his first four contests via technical knockout, including wins over Uriah Hall and former Welterweight champion, Johny Hendricks. Prior to that, Costa was knocking heads on the regional circuit, racking up eight straight first round finishes, bringing his undefeated total to 12-0, 4-0 UFC.

To go along with his well-rounded and powerful arsenal, Paulo has the looks and chiseled physique that could help him catapult into super-stardom should he keep racking up the wins.

Paulo was rumored to be facing his stiffest test to date in the former of former 185-pound title contender Yoel Romero at the upcoming UFC 230 pay-per-view (PPV) event on November 3, 2018, but “Soldier of God” recently revealed his recent surgery will prevent him from making that date.

Any suggestions as to who “The Eraser” should face in the interim?