This was reported by ESPN sportswriter Brett Okamoto.
“Paulo Costa and Robert Whittaker will not be fighting at UFC 284 in February,” a reporter wrote on the social media site. “Costa has one fight left on his current contract and is negotiating a new deal with the UFC. He did not agree to fight Whittaker. Sources say Whittaker is likely to leave the card as well and fight later.”
“Great fights are being canceled for lack of negotiation skills – they shouldn’t be so petty,” Costa commented on the report. “I didn’t bluff. I don’t think making fighters miserable is the smartest move. And I’m not just talking about myself. I’ll remind you: Ngannou, O’Malley, Mark Hunt and so on”
Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa currently sit second and sixth in the UFC middleweight rankings, respectively.