A confrontation over a vaccination card in his native Brazil has led to allegations that UFC middleweight Paulo Costa used his elbow to strike a nurse.
Costa, 31, and the unnamed nurse, 26, were brought to the Contagem Duty Police Station for questioning, according to an initial report by Globo. The incident occurred Monday.
Contagem is part of the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, the sixth largest city in Brazil.
According to the victim, Costa had arranged to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, but once the vaccination card was filled out and they attempted to administer the shot, the fighter refused. Instead, he attempted to leave with the card, which resulted in the nurse being elbowed.
Costa gave an alternate version of the events, in which he received the shot, only for the nurses to refuse to let him leave with the card. As he took the vaccination card and made his exit, Costa alleges the nurse grabbed him, and he broke free.
After providing his statement, Costa was released from custody. However, with the alleged victim in the case wishing to press criminal charges, Costa is due back in court at a later date.
Brazil is surpassed by only the United States and India in terms of COVID-19 cases. It is second globally in deaths caused as a result of the disease stemming from the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Paulo Costa is currently lined up for a fight with former UFC and Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. Originally announced by the promotion as part of UFC 277 on July 30, the fight has reportedly been pushed back to August 20, 2022.
