Paulo Costa agrees to new four-fight UFC deal, wants Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev in 2023

Brazilian mixed martial artist Paulo Costa has agreed to a new four-fight deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The news comes as a welcome development for fight fans, who have been eagerly anticipating Costa's return to the Octagon.

Costa, who holds a professional record of 13 wins and 1 loss, has been a force to be reckoned with in the UFC's middleweight division. His powerful striking and aggressive fighting style have made him a fan favorite, and he has earned impressive victories over some of the top fighters in the division.

Once the promotion revealed Costa had been scheduled to compete against Robert Whittaker at UFC 284, he explicitly stated that he still wouldn't compete without a new agreement. Costa has already been strongly criticized for his dissatisfaction with his contract agreement. Soon after, Costa declared he would explore the possibilities of free agency, but the Brazilian has already disclosed he has signed a new four-fight contract with the UFC.

“I haven’t signed the contract yet but we have reached a deal with the UFC regarding the pay,” Costa said to PVT. “It wasn’t easy, there was a lot of hard work, and I have to highlight Tamara’s brilliant work here.”

Costa revealed that he is actively in discussions with UFC about his upcoming match. Costa claims that the UFC contacted him with perhaps the chance to compete with either Sean Strickland in May or Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, which takes place on October 21 in Abu Dhabi.

“I want that, too,” Costa said of facing both men back-to-back in 2023. “[The UFC] wants to make sure this Chimaev fight happen at all costs, but I want to make both happen. We’ll see.”

Costa has a 14-2 record as a career and a 6-2 record since signing the UFC. In his most recent match, which took place in August 2022, he defeated Luke Rockhold by a unanimous decision to end a losing streak of two matches versus Marvin Vettori & Israel Adesanya.

It remains to be seen when Costa will return to the Octagon but fight fans can be sure that he will be looking to make a statement with his performances. With a new four-fight deal in place, Costa will have the opportunity to solidify his position as one of the top middleweights in the UFC.

Whether it's against Strickland, Chimaev, or another opponent, Costa's fights are always must-watch events. As the UFC continues to grow and evolve, Costa's aggressive style and knockout power make him a fighter to watch in 2023 and beyond.