Paulo Costa Picks Conor McGregor as Dream Fight After Addressing “Dangerous” Myth on Fighter Safety

Two weeks ago, mixed martial arts witnessed Khamzat Chimaev blazing through Dricus Du Plessis. With complete dominance inside the cage, the Russian secured the middleweight championship. However, as often happens, while Chimaev’s victory impressed many, some felt his performance fell short of expectations. Among them was Paulo Costa, who argued that Chimaev’s fighting style could actually harm the business of MMA. Though he may have his own reasons for criticism, Costa’s views on the sport are worth a closer look.

Why? Well, because there are still plenty of people, especially casual followers, who consider mixed martial arts a dangerous pursuit. So when the opportunity came, Paulo Costa didn’t hesitate to address some of the prevailing myths. The Brazilian fighter appeared on the cover of a leading fashion and culture magazine, where he spoke extensively about his journey in MMA during a Q&A session. And the bonus? As the interview wrapped up, he spilled the tea on a dream matchup: a fight with ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor!

From myths to McGregor: Paulo Costa’s bold stand

Major Magazine USA’s founder and leading fashion photographer, Jim Jordan, sat down with Paulo Costa for an in-depth interview. After a quick introduction, Jordan asked, “MMA can be pretty controversial at times. Are there any misconceptions about the sport or about you personally that you’d like to clear up?” So the BJJ black belt responded by explaining that MMA, as a sport, is far more regulated and disciplined than many people fear. “MMA is an addictive sport that draws huge crowds because of its intensity,” he said. “Sometimes people see only the aggression and think it’s dangerous.”

“But in reality, there are strict rules, athletic commissions, and specialized professionals who work to prevent long-term damage,” Costa emphasized. He added that the UFC, as a responsible organization, takes active measures to minimize risks to fighter safety. “It’s much more regulated and safe than many people realize,” the Brazilian fighter stressed.

Later, when discussing his ultimate goals, Costa revealed one dream matchup he would give anything for: “It would be against Conor McGregor. He’s one of the biggest names in the sport, and sharing the Octagon with him would be an unforgettable moment for me and for the fans.”

Of course, with McGregor facing his own set of problems, the chances of Costa’s dream fight coming true remain uncertain.

Costa at the crossroads

For now, however, talk has shifted toward a potential matchup with the recently dethroned middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis. For the record, Paulo Costa had originally been scheduled to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. But an injury forced him to withdraw.

On July 19, nearly twelve months after his decision loss to Sean Strickland, Paulo Costa returned to the cage at UFC 318, where he secured a victory over Roman Kopylov. Speaking on Submission Radio, Costa suggested that a fight with Dricus Du Plessis could be even more compelling than a rematch with his rival Israel Adesanya. And quite a few seem to agree.

Weighing in on the potential matchup, Chael Sonnen posed the question to viewers: “Paulo Costa versus Dricus Du Plessis. Tell me that you’ve heard a better idea.” The former two-division title challenger didn’t hold back from answering his own question: “I jump for this when I’m like, ‘Yes, I love it. I love the match.” By the way, this is Paul Costa’s call-out, but I feel like he nailed it. Not to mention, tell me a better fight. Tell me a better fight for Dricus. In some ways, that is the perfect opponent for Dricus. Dricus is the perfect opponent for Paulo Costa.”

As the year winds down, fans should keep an eye on the middleweight division. Developments there are looking more intriguing than ever. So, who would you want Paulo Costa to fight next?