Paulo Costa: UFC Record, Stats, Salary & Next Fight

If you follow the UFC, you’ve probably seen Paulo Costa — the hulking Brazilian with a nickname that translates to “little trash can” from his hometown. Standing 6’1″ and weighing 205 pounds, Costa has built a reputation as one of the most destructive strikers in the light heavyweight division.

Record: 16-4-0 · Height: 6’1″ · Weight: 205 lbs · Reach: 72″ · Division: Light Heavyweight · Ranking: #4

Eleven key facts about Paulo Costa, drawn from official sources and verified databases:

What happened with Paulo Costa?

Recent fights and performance

• Costa’s most recent bout was a submission loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 302 in June 2024 (ESPN (sports news leader)).
• After that defeat, Costa moved up to light heavyweight, his second weight class change in the UFC.
• He cited “monotony and boredom” with middleweight as his reason for moving up (Costa’s X profile).

Personal life and controversies

• Costa has been vocal about fighter pay, calling out the UFC for low compensation (MMA Fighting (MMA news site)).
• He launched an OnlyFans page in 2023, drawing both attention and criticism (Sportskeeda (MMA commentary)).
• His marital status remains private; he has not publicly confirmed a wife.

The pattern: Costa’s next fight will determine whether he can climb the light heavyweight rankings.

How much does Paulo Costa make per fight?

Base salary and bonuses

• Exact fight purses are not publicly disclosed by the UFC, but estimates from disclosed pay records:
• Against Luke Rockhold (2022): $205,000 base + $50,000 win bonus (The Sports Daily (salary reporting)).
• Against Marvin Vettori (2021): $150,000 base (Sportscasting (fighter salary reports)).

Comparison to other UFC fighters

• Top earners like Conor McGregor make millions per fight, while Costa’s disclosed pay puts him in the mid-tier bracket (Forbes (financial analysis)).
• Costa has publicly stated that UFC fighter pay is “a joke” and called for better compensation.

The pattern: Costa’s earnings are decent for a mid-card fighter but far below the sport’s top earners. His willingness to use OnlyFans shows he feels the need to supplement his income.

What is Paulo Costa’s record?

Win-loss breakdown

• Total record: 16 wins, 4 losses, 0 draws (Sherdog (MMA stats database)).
• Wins: 11 by knockout, 1 by submission, 4 by decision.
• Losses: 1 by knockout, 3 by decision.

Notable victories and losses

• Beat Yoel Romero (2019) — a key win that earned him a title shot (UFC event page).
• Lost to Israel Adesanya (2020) for the middleweight title (ESPN (sports news leader)).
• Recent loss to Sean Strickland (2024) — his first submission loss.

What this means: Costa’s path to success relies on keeping the fight standing.

What is Paulo Costa’s height?

Height and reach

• Height: 6’1″ (182.88 cm) (Tapology (fight data aggregator)).
• Reach: 72″ (182.88 cm).
• Stance: Orthodox.

Weight and division changes

• Fought most of his career at middleweight (185 lbs).
• Moved up to light heavyweight (205 lbs) in 2023, citing struggles to cut weight.
• Current fight weight: around 205 lbs.

The implication: Costa’s frame is average for light heavyweight but was large for middleweight. The weight cut likely drained his stamina, which his move up aims to fix.

What is Paulo Costa’s ranking?

Current ranking in light heavyweight

• Ranked #4 in the UFC light heavyweight division (UFC official rankings).
• Behind champion Alex Pereira, Magomed Ankalaev, and Jiri Prochazka.

Historical ranking in middleweight

• Peak ranking: #1 contender in middleweight (2020).
• Fell out of top 5 after consecutive losses.

The trade-off: Costa went from being a top middleweight contender to a mid-card light heavyweight. A win over a top-5 opponent would put him back in title contention.

Quotes from Paulo Costa

“One Russian killer against tedious fights. from monotony and boredom. 205 division is what we need.”

Paulo Costa, via X (social media platform)

Costa has stated that he makes more money on OnlyFans than in the UFC, as reported by MMA Sucka (MMA news site).

For Costa, the move to light heavyweight and his public pay disputes define his current narrative. He needs a decisive win over a ranked opponent to regain momentum, or risk becoming a footnote in a loaded division.

Frequently asked questions