Paulo Costa Reveals He Demanded RELEASE From UFC, Signing with Eddie Hearn, UPSET by UFC 332 Card
“I’m Not Frustrated, But I’m Not Happy Either”: Inside a Contract Standoff That Could Reshape a Career
He didn’t hold back. Watching a marquee weekend card come together without him in a meaningful role, one of the sport’s most outspoken competitors made his frustration public, arguing that a golden opportunity to fill a vacant interim title slot had been squandered — and that fans deserved far better than what they ultimately got.
According to him, the frustration has been building for months. He says he’d been requesting a fight as far back as the spring, only to be told repeatedly to wait, largely due to instability and inactivity throughout his own weight class.
When an opportunity finally came, it arrived on unreasonably short notice for a bout overseas, a scheduling crunch he says put him in an impossible position.
Since then, he claims, the only offers on the table have involved five-round main events without the additional compensation he believes should come with the extra work — a sticking point he’s dug in on firmly, comparing it to being asked to work significantly longer hours for the exact same paycheck.
He also revealed that he’d formally requested his release from the promotion multiple times, most recently within the last few days, only to be turned down each time.
Despite the tension, he was careful to frame the standoff as professional rather than personal, insisting that criticism and honesty on his part shouldn’t be mistaken for burned bridges.
Still, he acknowledged the irony of his situation: the promotion won’t release him, yet has also declined to offer him a new contract, leaving him in a frustrating holding pattern with one fight remaining on his current deal.
In a notable side development, he confirmed he’s on the verge of signing with a newly minted management and representation deal from a major figure in the boxing world who has recently expanded into mixed martial arts — a partnership he described with genuine enthusiasm, praising the executive’s business acumen and industry reputation.
He downplayed any concern that this relationship might complicate future dealings with his own promotion, despite a well-documented rivalry between his new representation and its own leadership, framing it as simply business, separate from personal beef.
He didn’t shy away from addressing a public back-and-forth with a fellow competitor who’d been publicly campaigning for a fight against him, including a crude jab referencing a nickname tied to his supplement routine.
His response was measured but firm: he has no personal issue with the matchup itself, only with being asked to take on additional risk and preparation without corresponding compensation.
The decision, he reiterated, ultimately rests with the promotion, not with him picking and choosing opponents.
He also addressed online speculation surrounding his brother’s living arrangement with a prominent female fighter he coaches, firmly shutting down rumors of a romantic relationship and clarifying that the arrangement was purely professional and familial in nature, despite years of cohabitation fueling gossip.
Through it all, his message remained consistent: he’s not walking away angry, he’s not issuing ultimatums, but he also isn’t backing down from what he believes is fair — whether that’s proper compensation, clearer communication, or simply the opportunity to compete for the title he’s long considered one of his career’s ultimate goals.
