According to the Brazilian, it all started with a staph infection that led to infectious bursitis that required surgery.
“When the doctor told me it was necessary to open up my elbow, I asked him how long it would take to remove the stitches,” the Brazilian told the regular edition of The MMA Hour program. “He replied that I needed to stay with the stitches for two weeks. So that meant we had two more weeks to train. That was good news, because that was good enough for me – I was in good shape and ready to fight. So I just asked the UFC not to take me off the fight. At first I even asked my doctor not to inform the UFC, but it was impossible, so I had to notify them”
Costa maintains that his confrontation with the Chechen fighter remains on track to take place on October 21 at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi as scheduled.
“Of course the fight is on. I want to thank the UFC for not canceling the fight because I believe I can beat him 99 times out of 100. I have everything I need to beat this motherf***er. He’s a fighter and he has nothing else for me. He has a big head, long arms, skinny body. He can’t do anything to me. I’ll stop his first tekdown and knock him out. I really wanted this fight, that’s why I didn’t withdraw. The only way the fight won’t happen is if the doctors drag me out of the cage screaming and kicking because I came to fight him and I really believe I can beat him.”
As a reminder, the middleweight fight is set to be the second most important event of the upcoming numbered event.