When Paulo Costa burst onto the UFC scene in 2017 with a first-round finish of Garreth McLellan, the MMA world knew it had something special on its hands. He followed his debut with a savage knockout streak, finishing his next three opponents within two rounds.  By 2019, riding a 13-0 record with 12 finishes, Costa wasn’t just a contender—he was a juggernaut with raw power and a physique that turned heads. His star power was such that even the UFC CEO, Dana White, had to praise him, “I think that kid is the next big Brazilian star. He’s on his way. Good looking, incredible physique, and fights like an animal.”

But after consecutive losses to Sean Strickland and Robert Whittaker, the hype train derailed. Once seen as the future of the middleweight division, Costa’s career took a dramatic nosedive. Amid the chaos, however, the Brazilian bruiser seems to have found a dose of humility. Fairly recently, ‘Borrachinna’ made a cryptic post on his X handle, leaving the entire MMA community scratching their heads. He wrote, “It’s definitely a simulation.” 

What might this be? Is he talking about the idea that human life is just a fragment of a simulation? Maybe. However, when one of the fans demeaned himself by calling himself a loser, saying, ‘Paulo, I wish I was you, I’m just a dork and a loser’—Costa consoled him, saying it’s better to stay positive. “The secret is mental. Care about your thoughts 💭 and speech. All things you say and think matter. Be positive, bro.” 

Quite a positive outlook from Paulo Costa. Why are we surprised? Well, if this had been the previous Costa, he might have credited it to ‘secret juice.’ But it seems Costa is now on a redemption arc. As of May, ‘Eraser’ is on a two-fight losing streak and has won only one of his last five fights. So, what’s next for the Brazilian? Let’s have a look at it.

Paulo Costa set to return against top contender at UFC 317

“I will bring back the [old] Paulo to take heads off, to finish the fight. I’m not that kind of counter [fighter], sorry, I’m not that kind of counter guy. I do better [when I] move forward and try to finish and look for heads. I have the power, so I need to deliver that — and I will do that. I won’t give a f—. F— points or conserving energy or f— anything about that. I will come to take heads off,” said Paulo Costa after losing his fight against Sean Strickland.

Since that defeat, Borrachinha has taken some time off to reflect on his fighting career. Promising a comeback that will shock everyone, Costa is determined to prove his doubters wrong — and guess what? The UFC has finally chosen an opponent for the Brazilian. The former UFC title challenger will be fighting Roman Kopylov at UFC 317, marking his 11th fight within the Octagon.

Riding a two-fight winning streak, Roman Kopylov is looking to cement his status as a rising middleweight contender, while Paulo Costa aims to recapture his peak 2019 form against Kopylov. Given that, what is your opinion on Paulo Costa’s career? State your thoughts in the comments below.