The Ultimate Fighting Championship is hoping that the third time is the charm for a middleweight clash between Yoel Romero and Paulo Henrique Costa.
According to a report from Combate, the Las Vegas-based promotion is targeting Romero vs. Costa for its UFC on ESPN 3 card at American Airlines Arena in Miami on April 27. Multiple outlets have since confirmed that the 185-pound bout is in the works.
Romero and Costa were originally scheduled to meet at UFC 230, but “The Soldier of God” was forced to withdraw due to lingering injuries from his UFC 225 clash against Robert Whittaker. The middleweights were later targeted for UFC Brooklyn on Jan. 19, but Romero again had to pull out of the contest.
Romero has lost two of his last three bouts, both in five round verdicts against Whittaker, the reigning middleweight champion. The American Top Team member began his promotional tenure on an eight-fight winning streak.
“Borrachinha” hasn’t competed since July, when he scored a second-round technical knockout of Uriah Hall at UFC 226. The 27-year-old Brazilian is 12-0 as a professional and 4-0 in the UFC, with all of his victories coming inside two rounds.