Paulo Costa agrees to new 4-fight contract with UFC

Middleweight fighter Paulo Costa has agreed to a new four-fight contract with the UFC, he announced Wednesday on "PVT", according to Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting.

"I haven't signed the contract yet but we have reached a deal with the UFC regarding the pay,” Costa said, per Cruz.

Costa has been out of action since August 2022 when he beat Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. He was scheduled to face Robert Whittaker at UFC 284 earlier this year, but the bout never materialized as the Brazilian and the promotion could not agree to terms. Costa had one more fight left on his deal at the time.

The 31-year-old also revealed that the UFC asked him about fighting Sean Strickland or Khamzat Chimaev this year, but he hopes to make both fights happen.

Costa snapped a two-fight losing streak with his win over Rockhold at UFC 278. He previously lost to Israel Adesanya, which snapped his undefeated record, and then Marvin Vettori before getting back in the win column.