Dana White has pushed back on Paulo Costa’s (16-4) frustration with the UFC, saying the light heavyweight contender has been offered fights but has turned them down.
“What does that even mean? He’s been offered fights and turned them down. We don’t just say, ‘Paulo Costa and you’re not gonna get a fight. No, we’re not gonna pay you. No, we’re not gonna do this.’ Guys get offered three fights a year, regularly. Even guys that aren’t fighting. Like, Tom Aspinall’s eyes are messed up. He’s getting offered fights. You think Paulo Costa isn’t getting offered fights?” White said.
Costa, who says he has one fight remaining on his UFC contract, has publicly given the promotion three options: book him in the three-round fight covered by his current purse, offer him additional compensation for a five-round fight, or release him from his contract.
Costa has since clarified that he has received fight offers, but claims they have been for five-round bouts under the same financial terms as a three-round fight.
The dispute follows Costa’s unsuccessful push for a fight at UFC 332 and his previous call for an interim light heavyweight title opportunity while champion Carlos Ulberg recovers from knee surgery.
White did not rule out the possibility of an interim title at 205 pounds, saying only, “We’ll see what happens.”
Former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev has also publicly offered to face Costa while the contract dispute continues.
Costa has also recently aligned himself with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency as he approaches the final fight of his current UFC deal.