Highlights of the fight between Paulo Costa and Luke Rockhold

Watch Paulo Costa vs. Luke Rockhold full fight video highlights from their fight on the UFC 278 main card, courtesy of the UFC and other outlets.

UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2 took place August 30 at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Paulo Costa (14-2) and former UFC champion Luke Rockhold (16-6) collided in a key middleweight fight. The fight aired live on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

Catch the video highlights below.

For more on Costa vs. Rockhold, check out the live blog from MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew.

Round 1

This is a very attractive matchup. Costa is quick in the orthodox while Rockhold comes out in the southpaw. Rockhold shows lots of kicks in the early stages. Costa throwing his hands.

Rockhold lands a body kick and Costa swings a big shot. Rockhold scores a double, but Costa may have injured him with a punch. He’s now sprawling. Shots from the sprawl by Costa. Rockhold gets up but Costa putting the pressure on.

Cost holds Rockhold against the fence. He unloads, Rockhold seems wary. But Costa grabs a hold and knocks Rockhold to the ground. It’s quite amazing. It’s amazing.

Rockhold maintains his posture, but is getting overwhelmed. Costa in top half guard and lands a big elbow to the ribs. Rockhold takes the mount and Costa moves on. Rockhold decides to get a guillotine due to cost pressures. Costa defends, and he is back in the top half. He is taking some breaths right now but he’s hammering body shots into Rockhold and moves to mount. Costa looking very good from top position.

Rockhold explodes, and he sneaks out of the back door. Now they are at space. Rockhold looks a bit worse, but the men take deep breathes.

Rockhold does a front kick. Another. Body kick. And another. And another. Costa calls him to continue rifling the blood in. Rockhold taking deep breaths though as his mouth is pouring blood.

Costa grabs a clinch, with both men holding the cage. Costa tries to take Rockhold down, but Rockhold resists. They’re now at space. Rockhold scores another huge body kick. They are pushed by Costa. Rockhold lands a big left hand. Costa shakes the thing off, and the round is over. Rockhold immediately puts his hands on his knees. Both men look very, very tired.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Costa.

Round 2

Both men breathing heavily but Rockhold looks to be in worse shape. But he comes out firing and lands some big shots and gets Costa to the fence. He shoots a double and gets a takedown but he rushes it and Costa is up and he’s got Rockhold against the fence now.

Rockhold looks beat to hell and Costa attacking now. Lands to the body. Big left hook from Costa lands. Costa winded and pressuring. Rockhold firing back. Costa scores a body kick. A left hook is also delivered to the body.

Spinning kick by Rockhold to the body. Tornado kick of Rockhold! Costa eats it. Rockhold lands a left hand that stuns Costa! Costa comes back Rockhold is so exhausted. Costa presseuring Rockhold and swinging his right hand.

Head kick by Costa is landed, but Rockhold scores a solid right hand. Rockhold puts his hands on his knees! Costa has to feel okay about that. Costa still pressuring. Rockhold looks Costa in the eyes and takes a short break to finish the resume. Rockhold has no gas. He manages to land a body kick. He goes up.

Costa still pressuring. Rockhold still kicking. Costa misses the wheel kick, but Costa then hits a huge right uppercut that knocks Rockhold off his feet. Beltran stops the bout and Rockhold now has five minutes to recover. Costa believed he had won the fight. Now he’s sitting down. Both men tired. Rockhold extends his arms to the crowd, and receives a huge cheer. Beltran tells Rockhold to be patient. He damn sure should.

Rockhold says he’s ready and Costa comes out with the pressure. Rockhold throws some kicks. He does appear to have gotten a second wind. Costa kicks, Rockhold spinning back fist misses. Rockhold now advancing though. A spinning back kick is missed by Rockhold. Costa hits a huge low kick. Costa uses his right hand to reach the body.

30 seconds left and Costa now advancing at will. Lands a big body shot. Rockhold pressures back but he’s tired again. Costa coming at him to close the round.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Costa, 20-18 Costa overall.

Round 3

Rockhold most likely needs a finish to win and to do that, he probably needs a takedown. Although it is possible, it will take a lot of heart. That’s what his corner said. It’s gut check time. Who wants it more?

Both of the men seem so gassed they want to begin the third. Costa advances and he’s got Rockhold against the fence and he’s unloading. Rockhold hurts Costa with a right hook as he spins and Rockhold gets on top but he gets sloppy and Costa pushes him off and he’s up. That was the chance for Rockhold!

Costa advances and scores a huge right, making Rockhold numb. Rockhold does however land a huge left jab of his own, which backs Costa. He comes back though and lands a big left jab. Rockhold misses and swings. Costa under pressure with a right-hand. And another.

Rockhold goes crazy and throws a left-hook that stuns Costa Costa returns, but he can’t keep up the momentum. Rockhold bangs Costa again, but Costa is so resilient. Rockhold getting angry and yelling. He shoots a double and Costa sprawls and spins to the back. Rockhold is able to roll over on his back, and Costa can keep control from the side. Horrible mistake. Costa is able to ride this round and was enjoying a lot on his feet.

Costa holding position now. He advances to mount after some work. Well, 3/4 mount. Rockhold is now without a backpack and Rockhold will give up his back. Costa takes the backpack, and Rockhold just wants to make it through the night. While Costa is still on his back, he’s bleeding profusely and saying “F*** You!”

Rockhold tries to become Costa, but it is not possible at the moment. Costa holds on to the rest of the round. Rockhold is able to spin but he only has 22 seconds!

Rockhold rubs his blood in Costa’s face as the crowd go insane. We make it until the last buzzer. Costa holds on tight. It was a great fight.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Costa, 30-27 Costa overall.