Paulo Costa has declined a short-notice opportunity to face Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC Fight Night 282 on July 25 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Ankalaev was originally scheduled to meet Khalil Rountree in the headliner before Rountree withdrew due to injury. The UFC then contacted Jan Blachowicz and Costa as potential replacements, but Bogdan Guskov was ultimately selected to step in against Ankalaev.
Costa cited the tight turnaround, long travel, and preparation issues as the reasons he passed on the fight. "It's so short notice, less than 14 days to get on a flight to Abu Dhabi," Costa said. He added, "Sixteen-hour flight to Abu Dhabi for five rounds, for the same money, and not for an interim belt. I don't think this makes sense right now. I thought about it, but it doesn't make sense. My weight is not bad. I'm 234 (pounds) right now. I should start a very strict diet because I need like seven or eight weeks to make weight properly. Different than when I fight middleweight, when I needed 12, maybe 14 weeks."
Costa recently moved to light heavyweight and holds a 16-4 MMA record, including 8-4 in the UFC. Ankalaev enters the July 25 headliner with a 21-2-1 MMA mark and a 12-2-1 slate in the UFC.
