.png)
According to reports, Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev will finally square off at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi on October 21. The planned middleweight matchup between Costa and Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 291 on July 29 has recently been called off.
The official explanation for Costa's withdrawal is still unknown, but a cryptic tweet from the Brazilian boxer himself set the rumour mill into frenzy. Many speculated in response to Costa's tweet that his choice might have been a calculated one to open the door for an epic confrontation with "Borz" later this year.
According to MMA content creator Melotto, Paulo Costa has finally signed a contract to fight Chimaev at UFC 294:
"Exclusive: Paulo Borrachinha has signed a contract to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 on Oct. 21 in Abu Dhabi after his bout with Ikram Aliskerov failed to materialize."
Recently, Costa defeated former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold by a convincing decision at UFC 278. On the other hand, after his most recent fight against Kevin Holland in September 2022, Chimaev has been conspicuously absent from the octagon.