{"id":197,"date":"2026-07-14T13:39:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T13:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/mma\/?p=197"},"modified":"2026-07-14T13:39:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T13:39:58","slug":"paulo-costa-trolls-the-ufc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/mma\/2026\/07\/14\/paulo-costa-trolls-the-ufc\/","title":{"rendered":"Paulo Costa Trolls the UFC for Offering Him Magomed Ankalaev on 12 Days\u2019 Notice and No Extra Incentives"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the second time in as many weeks, Paulo Costa has publicly questioned the UFC over his booking<\/a>, this time revealing why he turned down a short-notice opportunity to face Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n

Costa’s latest comments come after a major shake-up to the July 25 card, where Khalil Rountree Jr. was forced to withdraw from the scheduled main event against Ankalaev due to an undisclosed injury. Rather than removing Ankalaev from the event, the UFC quickly found a replacement, with Bogdan Guskov stepping in on short notice to save the headline bout.<\/p>\n

The promotion officially confirmed the matchup on social media. Before settling on Guskov, however, the UFC reportedly explored several other options, including former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz and Costa. While Blachowicz was unable to make the 205-pound limit on short notice, Costa revealed there was another reason he declined the fight.<\/p>\n

Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show<\/a> on Monday, the Brazilian said the UFC approached him about replacing Rountree Jr. but offered no additional financial incentive despite the difficult circumstances. With less than two weeks’ notice, a lengthy trip to Abu Dhabi, and a five-round main event awaiting him, Costa felt the offer simply wasn’t worth accepting.<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cIt\u2019s so short notice, less than 14 days to get a flight to Abu Dhabi. 16-hour flight to Abu Dhabi, five rounds, for the same money, and not for an interim belt. I don\u2019t think that makes sense right now. My weight is not bad, I\u2019m 234 [pounds] right now. I should start a strict diet. I need like seven or eight weeks to make weight properly. Different than when I fight Middleweight, when I need 12-14 weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Paulo Costa reveals the UFC contacted him yesterday about replacing Khalil Rountree Jr. against Magomed Ankalaev after Rountree’s withdrawal for UFC Abu Dhabi:<\/p>\n

“It’s less than 14 days to get a flight to Abu Dhabi. It’s a 16-hour flight, five rounds, for the same money, and not\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/98VtDANJFd<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 13, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n