Paulo Costa is turning his attention back to Khamzat Chimaev, lobbying for a long-discussed showdown in the wake of UFC 328.
Costa and Chimaev were previously scheduled to meet at UFC 294 in October 2023, but the bout fell through when Costa withdrew due to an elbow infection. Now, with both men at pivotal moments in their careers, Costa is pushing to finally make the matchup happen.
Chimaev recently lost his middleweight title by split decision to Sean Strickland, and UFC CEO Dana White said Chimaev has informed him of plans to move up to 205 pounds. Referring to Chimaev by his nickname, White said, "The Wolf" while discussing the situation.
Costa is already established at light heavyweight after making his divisional debut with a UFC 327 finish of Azamat Murzakanov. However, the title picture at 205 pounds is currently on hold, as new champion Carlos Ulberg is sidelined with an ACL tear sustained in his UFC 327 knockout of Jiri Prochazka.
White noted that no decisions have been made about what comes next in the light heavyweight division, leaving the door open for potential contenders as Costa continues to push for a fight with Chimaev.
