Paulo Costa

Early Life & Background

Paulo Henrique Costa was born on April 21, 1991, in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Raised in a working‑class household by his mother, Maria Augusta, and father, Carlos Roberto, he found discipline and purpose in martial arts from an early age. Costa began training in Muay Thai at age nine to steer clear of street fights, later picking up Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu under the guidance of his brother and coach, Carlos Costa. His athletic journey included stint as an IT instructor—teaching Microsoft Office—to support his family before fully committing to MMA .

MMA Debut & Rise to UFC

Costa made his professional MMA debut in February 2012, quickly building an 8–0 record in Brazil’s regional circuit, showcasing seven knockouts and one submission. After winning and defending the Jungle Fight Middleweight title, he earned a spot on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3, which led to a UFC contract in 2017.

He debuted in the UFC at UFC Fight Night 106 in March 2017 with a first-round TKO over Garreth McLellan, earning a Performance of the Night bonus. Costa followed that up with highlight wins over Oluwale Bamgbose, Johny Hendricks, Uriah Hall, and Yoel Romero—the latter two earning him additional bonuses and propelling him into title contention.

In September 2020, Costa challenged Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 253. He suffered his first official knockout loss by TKO in the second round but returned to take on a new challenge at light heavyweight with Marvin Vettori in 2021, then fought Luke Rockhold in 2022, securing Fight of the Night honors .

Fighting Style & Attributes

Nicknamed “Borrachinha” (Portuguese for “Little Rubber”) and also known as “The Eraser”, Costa is a physically imposing 6'1", 185 lb middleweight with a 72" reach, favoring an orthodox stance. Blessed with explosive physicality and powerful boxing, he is a high-volume striker—landing 6.15 significant strikes per minute, the second‑highest in UFC middleweight history .

His foundation in Muay Thai and BJJ gives him a solid grappling base, with a takedown defense rate around 79%. Costa is at his best when stalking opponents, mid-range punching, and devastating with overhand combinations . While his offensive aggression is his strength, some critics point to lapses in patience or fight IQ, but when he’s operating in rhythm, he’s one of the division’s most imposing strikers.

Career Highlights

• Pound-for-Pound Strike Rate – Boasts the second-highest striking output per minute in UFC Middleweight history at 6.15 significant strikes per minute .
• Performance & Fight Bonuses Galore – Has earned Performance of the Night twice (vs. McLellan and Hall) and Fight of the Night twice (vs. Romero and Rockhold), highlighting his potential for exiciting bouts .
• Jungle Fight Champion – Claimed and defended the Jungle Fight Middleweight title in Brazil before transitioning to UFC, showcasing early dominance and finishing ability .

Paulo Costa’s path—from a disciplined athlete in Brazil to a devastating finisher and title challenger in the UFC—is defined by power, powerful striking, and relentless drive. Though some losses have posed questions, he remains one of the division’s most feared punchers.