“While he’s hiding, I’m hunting to eat,” the Brazilian wrote on social media, tagging the Chechen fighter. “Dubai is my home. I have taken it over.”
A middleweight bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Paulo Costa was scheduled to take place on October 21 at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, however, twelve days before the event, the Brazilian pulled out of the tournament due to a staph infection, and his spot on the card was taken by Kamaru Usman, who ultimately lost to “Borz” by a majority of the judges’ votes.
Despite Chimaev being announced as the next middleweight title challenger, a few days ago UFC head honcho Dana White officially announced that a championship fight between Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis will be the main event of UFC 297, which takes place on January 20 in Toronto.
Paulo Costa last stepped into the octagon last August, winning a unanimous decision over former division champion Luke Rockhold.