‘He’d Be on a Plane with No Money’- Dana White Reveals that Paulo Costa Won’t Face Internal Punishment

UFC President Dana White spoke to the media following UFC Vegas 41 that wrapped up inside the Apex Facility. Headliners Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori gave fans plenty to cheer about by putting on a five-round war in the cage. ‘The Italian Dream’ secured the unanimous decision victory when it was all said and done and is now back in the win column.

Fight week heading into the aforementioned bout came with several changes as Paulo Costa announced he wouldn’t be making weight. The Brazilian requested that the middleweight scrap be moved up to 195-pounds, but later wanted an extension to 205-pounds. Costa lost out on 20% of his fight purse to Vettori and both men stepped in for a light heavyweight scrap.

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Dana White weighs in on Paulo Costa’s unprofessionalism

The long-time boss of the UFC wasn’t too thrilled with Paulo Costa for failing to make the specified weight for the contest. However, at the post-fight presser, he revealed that the UFC wouldn’t seek any more internal action against ‘The Eraser’. White believes that his fight purse deduction and the media scrutiny he faced as punishment enough.

“I don’t think there’s a precedent [for punishment]. He is getting fined 20% if his purse that is going to go to Vettori. Had this thing not worked out the way it did, he’d be on a plane to Brazil with no money. Put back on a plane, flew back to Brazil and wouldn’t have made a dime on this fight.”

“When you talk about prize fighters that are getting money to actually get in and perform, when they perform… he had to give 20% of that. That’s punishment enough plus you guys [media] beat him up pretty good too, deservedly.”

There’s no doubt that Costa’s reputation took a massive hit by his fight week antics heading in UFC Vegas 41. White also mentioned that Costa will have to fight as a light heavyweight going forward and it appears as though the Brazilian doesn’t have much of a say on what happens.

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