Robert Whittaker Defeats Paulo Costa in UFC 298 Co-Headliner

Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa collided in the co-headliner for UFC 298 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Whittaker's victory marked his return to the Octagon since his second-round TKO loss to current UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, while Costa, who missed all of 2023, had not competed since August 2022.

The fight saw Whittaker assert control early with leg kicks, while Costa attempted head kicks. Whittaker landed a stiff jab and began to visibly affect Costa's left leg with kicks. Costa countered with a spinning heel kick that briefly wobbled Whittaker, but the round ended before further damage could be done.

In the subsequent rounds, Whittaker increased his pace, capitalizing on Costa's slowing momentum. Despite Costa's continued aggression, Whittaker's strategic approach earned him a unanimous decision victory. With this win, Whittaker's professional MMA record improves to 25-7, maintaining his number three spot on the official UFC 185-pound rankings.

Although Costa faced another setback in his quest for UFC gold, his solid performance against Whittaker suggests he will remain a formidable opponent in his next fight.