Paulo
Costa has vowed to go for finishes in the future after his
split-decision loss against Sean
Strickland at UFC
302.

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Strickland put on a defensive striking clinic to nullify Costa’s
power in the co-main event at UFC 302 on Saturday. Despite
Strickland completely outclassing Costa over the course of five
rounds, the former champ earned only a split-decision win, with
judge Dave Tirelli
bizarrely scoring the fight for the Brazilian.

Tirelli, who had also inexplicably scored another fight in favor of
Mitch
Raposo earlier in the night, faced some harsh criticism from

UFC CEO Dana White at the post-fight press conference. White
also noted that Costa didn’t deliver the usual type of action for
which he has become known. Meanwhile, color commentator Joe Rogan
opined that “Borrachinha” hasn’t been the same since his title loss
to Israel
Adesanya in 2020. Costa agreed with both White and Rogan and
vows to bring back the version of him that goes for finishes.

“I just came to say a few words. Yeah, Sean won. I didn’t perform
very well. I think he didn’t either,” Costa said in a video on X.
“But at least he did enough to win, right? This is two [losses] for
us in a row, in three fights, three former champs: Luke
Rockhold, [Robert] Whittaker and Sean. I won one and lost two.
But I will tell [you] something, I agree with Dana [White] and Joe
Rogan and I will do that, I will bring back that Paulo, take heads
off, finish the fights.”

While Costa usually fights at his best while moving forward, the
Brazilian was on his back foot all night long against Strickland’s
forward pressurre. Costa was also somewhat measured in his
approach, perhaps cautious of exhausting his gas tank in a
five-round fight. However, Costa vows to never leave fights to
decisions going forward. Costa is also confident that he won the
opening frame, which judge Chris Lee
scored in favor of Strickland.

“I’m not the kind of counter guy,” he said. “I do better [moving] forward and [trying] to finish and [looking] for heads. Sean, so
awkward, so different kind of fighter to fight against. It was
difficult. He was teeping me, pushing me, keeping me far from him.
Because he knows the power that I have. And I have the power, so I
need to deliver that. And I will do that. I won’t give a f—k for
points, or conserve energy or f—k anything about that. I will come
to take heads off and this is who I am… F—k points, I’ve had enough
of this. Even the first round that I was 100% sure that I won. Some
people thought I lost, f—k them. I’ll come to take heads off,
that’s it.”

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

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