Paulo Costa has turned into one of the most entertaining fighters in the UFC, both in and out of the cage. A dynamic and striking-first fighter, his fighting style is reminiscent of the brawler style of the mid-2000s. And his shenanigans out of the cage are legendary at this point. UFC fans will be aware of the famous ‘Secret Juice’ meme associated with Costa.

Now, Costa is gearing up for his next bout against Sean Strickland at UFC 302. He looks fresh and hungry for a win after failing to impress against Robert Whittaker at UFC 298. Let us look at why he is nicknamed ‘The Eraser’ and why he changed it from his original nickname.

Why is Paulo Costa called ‘Borrachinha’?

Paulo Costa’s elder brother Carlos, who was also a fighter, was given the moniker ‘Borracha’, a Portuguese word that literally translates to ‘Rubber’ in English. He was granted this nickname due to his flexibility. Carlos is the one who gave Paulo the moniker ‘Borrachinha’, which means “Little Rubber Man” in Portuguese.

He earned the nickname for himself because of his elasticity back in the day. And today, he’s still as primed and ready to go. One of his most memorable fights has to be his brutal brawl-up against yet another heavy hitter, Yoel Romero.

Will he be able to provide a similar fight against Sean Strickland? Perhaps that’s destined to be. Clearly, Paulo Costa wanted to do justice to his nickname once he joined with the UFC and so, he ended up changing it to something else. Something a new audience might grip better.

Interestingly, Paulo Costa adopted this moniker early in his fighting career and kept it for several years. However, when he signed with the UFC, he felt compelled to modify it as the English translation as the Portuguese phrase didn’t sound good in English. And so, he changed his nickname to ‘The Eraser’.

‘Borrachinha’ changed his moniker to ‘The Eraser’ after a film star

Paulo Costa’s coach, Eric Albarracin, proposed a new moniker, ‘The Eraser,’ inspired by the film ‘Eraser’ starring iconic action star Arnold Schwarzenegger. A favorite American flick for many, it fits well with the dangerous attitude Costa brings to the cage.

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“The Eraser is the best translation; it’s like, ‘I will erase you, Johny Hendricks,’” Costa would joke about his new nickname. And the nickname does compliment his dynamic and exciting fighting style.

The fight may have title implications in the near future in the turbulent middleweight division. The competitive spirit between Paulo Costa and Sean Strickland means that their fight would be an opportunity to see who’s best. And those usually make for very entertaining fights.

Also Read: How Much Is Robert Whittaker Getting Paid at UFC 298 Against Paulo Costa?