Paulo Costa Strongly Shuns Khamzat Chimaev vs. Kamaru Usman Fight Rumors: “Dana White Doesn’t Like…”

‘Borrachinha’ is back with a bang! Paulo Costa has been out of the UFC limelight for a while now – and how could he not try to take the spot back? How? Well, he is currently training with the Pitbull Brothers in Brazil, and for starters – Costa finally spills the beans on his recent contract issues with the UFC. Further, he fuels yet more frenzy in the already mystery-shrouded Kamaru Usman vs Khamzat Chimaev “super fight” – as he shuns all rumors about the fight.

In an exclusive interview with Henry Cejudo, ‘The Eraser’ shared his thoughts on the possibility of a Khamzat Chimaev vs. Kamaru Usman superfight, voicing his doubts about the fight actually happening. Back in April, the Brazilian powerhouse made headlines for rejecting yet another offer from the UFC. But this recent exclusive may just be the hint that all Costa fans were looking for!

Paulo Costa shuns Chimaev vs Usman fight rumors

When probed for his take on the potential “super-fight”, Costa dismissed the idea outright, saying,

“No, no – I don’t believe in that!”

The Brazilian argued that Chimaev would struggle to make weight at 170 pounds. And even if he did, against Kamaru Usman, it wouldn’t be a fair fight. He even shed some light on the behind-the-scene factors, adding “…Dana White doesn’t like these kinds of [fights] – UFC doesn’t like that.” 

When asked for his predictions about the fight, he said it was “hard to predict… hard to think…”

The interviewer pressed further, asking if Costa thought the fight would ever come to fruition. To which Costa responded with another clear denial, stating, “I don’t know either.”

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All-in-all Costa seemed pretty reserved with his opinions and was dismissive, with no clear hints on the certainty of the bout. It’s safe to say – fans will have to wait for an official statement from UFC on the potential ‘super-fight’, though it seems highly unlikely that the fight will actually culminate into reality.

Henry Cejudo ‘leans’ toward Kamaru Usman

Henry Cejudo, who was also part of the interview, chimed in with his perspective. Cejudo recognized the challenge of predicting the outcome, emphasizing Usman’s status as a top fighter. But he didn’t hesitate to praise Chimaev’s evolution as a fighter – making it hard to assess his full potential. He even added,

“So we don’t know how good Khamzat is… we know how good Kamaru is. Yeah, that’s where I’m at with that…”

Cejudo ultimately leaned towards Usman, asserting the value of experience in the fight game –

“I lean towards – I lean towards Kamaru for experience. One thing is – you can’t substitute his experience.”

He pointed out how experience can be the decisive factor – as it allows fighters to make better decisions during critical moments. Cejudo emphasized, “Experience – that’s how older people beat younger people.” He even highlighted how one right decision can make all the difference in a fight, and that’s where Usman’s advantage lies – if the fight ever comes to fruition.

What do you think about this potential ‘super-fight’? Do you think we’ll get to see both the veteran and the rising star at the ringside? Let us know in the comments below!

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