Paulo
Costa believes the
Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight division will
have a new champion before Carlos
Ulberg returns to the Octagon.
Ulberg (14-1) won the vacant title this past April, knocking out
Jiri
Prochazka in the first round of their title clash. Currently
recovering from an ACL injury he suffered in the bout, the Kiwi
champion recently revealed that he plans to defend his belt in
2027. Ulberg even pitched some 205-pound matchups following
Magomed
Ankalaev’s win over Bogdan
Guskov at
UFC Abu Dhabi, pitting Ankalaev against Prochazka and Costa
against Khalil
Rountree.
Advertisement
Costa, however, sees the divisional title picture playing out
differently.
Paulo Costa angles for title shot, shuts down Carlos Ulberg
playing matchmaker
Ulberg took to social media after former champion Ankalaev returned
to winning ways in a lackluster bout in Abu Dhabi to pitch the
aforementioned matchups. “After last night’s fights, here’s my thoughts: Ankalaev vs. Jiri.
Give them both a full camp. It’s a fight the division deserves, and
stylistically it’s one the fans would love to see,” Ulberg wrote on
his Instagram Stories. “Costa vs. Rountree. That’s the wildcard.
High risk, high reward. Someone’s leaving with serious momentum. By
the time the dust settles… I’ll be ready. Whoever earns it. See
you in 2027. God is Great.”
However, Costa (16-4) believes there will be a new light
heavyweight champion by the end of 2026 and considers himself
worthy of a title shot.
“Hahaha this is funny ni**a,” The Brazilian wrote on X, accompanied
by a winking emoji. “We will have another champion in 2026 and I
coming to get it”
Notably, UFC CEO Dana
White had previously claimed that an interim title could be up
for grabs while Ulberg completes his recovery.
Hahaha this is funny nia .
We will have another champion in 2026 and I coming to get it .😉
pic.twitter.com/1FNhNubLkI— Paulo
Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA)
July 30, 2026