Paulo Costa is a Brazilian mixed martial artist competing in the UFC’s middleweight division. Born on April 21, 1991, in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Costa began training in martial arts at a young age, initially focusing on Muay Thai and later adding Brazilian jiu-jitsu to his skill set. Before committing fully to MMA, he also worked as an IT technician and briefly pursued a degree in law.
Costa began his professional MMA career in Brazil in 2012, earning a series of first-round stoppage victories that highlighted his physical strength and striking power. He gained wider attention with a successful appearance on a season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, which helped pave the way for his UFC debut.
He joined the UFC in 2017 and quickly established himself as a powerful and aggressive striker, earning multiple performance bonuses and stopping several opponents in dominant fashion. His combination of forward pressure, physicality, and knockout ability made him a top contender in the middleweight division.
In 2020, Costa challenged for the UFC Middleweight Championship, facing Israel Adesanya in a highly anticipated bout. Though he came up short in the title fight, he remained active in the division, continuing to face top-level competition and maintain a position among the UFC’s ranked middleweights.
Known for his athleticism and finishing ability, Paulo Costa remains a prominent figure in the UFC with a reputation for entertaining and high-intensity bouts.