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Paulo Costa wants to wage war with fellow Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight title challenger Marvin Vettori, according to the Brazilian’s manager, Wallid Ismail.
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reported on Monday that Costa (No. 2) and his camp is pushing for a fight with Vettori (No. 4). The two contenders went back-and-forth on social media as recently as June.
Asked MMA manager Wallid Ismail (@WallidJfc) for an update on Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA). He said the fight he wants to make and is pushing UFC for is Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori). Both talk trash, fun matchup. Wallid is trying to make it from his end.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 19, 2021
“Asked MMA manager Wallid Ismail for an update on Paulo Costa,” Okamoto tweeted. “He said the fight he wants to make and is pushing UFC for is Marvin Vettori. Both talk trash, fun matchup. Wallid is trying to make it from his end.”
Costa (13-1) has not fought since suffering a second-round technical knockout to Adesanya at UFC 253 in Sept. 2020. Vettori (17-5-1), similarly, is coming off a loss to Adesanya at UFC 263 just last month.
“Borrachinha” has been at odds with UFC lately over pay disputes. Costa was scheduled to fight former UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker on April 17; however, the Brazilian fighter withdrew due to illness. Costa was subsequently expected to fight Jared Cannonier on Aug. 21, 2021, but again pulled out.
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