After an extended absence due to contract negotiations and health issues, Paulo Costa finally returned to action at UFC 298, taking on the ever-dangerous ex-middleweight champ Robert Whittaker.
Though not set in stone, the winner would have a possible claim to a title shot, assuming the UFC went ahead with Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya next.
Whittaker opened up the action with some low kicks, but it was Costa catching the ex-champ with both an uppercut, and later a couple of head kicks that even if partially blocked made an impact. Costa worked his jab, while Whittaker led with his left and and continued to attack the lead leg of Costa— with a welt soon forming on the Brazilian.
Costa’s left hand then gave Whittaker paused; Whittaker’s right moment’s later snapped Costa’s head back. The round continued on with both men landing in a stand-up battle that included head kicks, body shots, calf kicks, and everything in-between. Just ahead of the buzzer, Costa rocked Robert Whittaker with a spinning wheel kick that landed on the side of the face— and only the buzzer seemed to save “The Reaper” from having his own soul harvested.
Round two opened with a significant question: had Whittaker recovered? Inside of a minute, Costa tried to make lightning strike twice, firing another head kick. Costa appeared to be in the zone, firing his jab and now mixing in low kicks of his own. But Whittaker answered back with his own calf kicks, and things were just heating up when a thumb poked the eye of Robert Whittaker. Just a brief pause, however, and they got back underway.
At center, Whittaker landed heavy, but another head kick came his way, only to be blocked. Costa ate more calf kicks, and his movement started to show it. The damage had piled up, and Costa was suddenly a step behind. A left hand landed for Whittaker. The high kick for Costa was there again, but slower this time, easily blocked by Whittaker. Paulo Costa was going to need a second wind, or an extra leg, in the third.
Paulo Costa’s corner warned him heading into the third to avoid taking any more calf kicks. Instead, the pair traded low kicks inside of a minute, and Costa nearly lost his footing on a follow-up attack by Whittaker. Costa fired back a heavy low kick of his own in response, but a tit-for-tat kicking exchange probably wasn’t in his best interest.
Things took a turn midway through the third, with Whittaker seemingly slowed a step, and Costa finding a much-needed second wind. Costa worked his jab and kicks, walking forward. Whittaker circled, back to the fence, and tried to stay mobile. The round was still very close; Costa, maybe sensing that, fired another spinning heel kick, but this time it failed to connect. Costa did a little showboating at the end of the fight, and both men lifted their arms in celebration after the final horn.
Official Result: Robert Whittaker def. Paulo Costa by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
