The coach of UFC middleweight contender Paulo Costa has promised fans that a new and improved version of the Brazilian will take to the Octagon this weekend.
After contractual disputes and injuries kept him out of action for a considerable period, Costa made his first walk to the octagon since 2022 at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February.
While he emerged from the Honda Center without a victory, the former title challenger’s performance in defeat against ex-champion Robert Whittaker signaled that he remains a strong threat at 185 pounds.
“Borrachinha” will now look to go a step further by having his hand raised at the UFC 302 pay-per-view on June 1, where he’s set to co-headline opposite another former divisional kingpin in Sean Strickland.
More than just looking to repeat the competitive display he had earlier this year, Costa’s team is seemingly expecting the best “Borrachinha” to date in Newark…
Coach Albarracin Touts Costa’s UFC 302 Preparation
During episode one of the UFC 302 Embedded: Vlog Series, cameras caught up with Costa and his team as they trained at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Coach Eric Albarracin was complimentary toward his student’s progress, claiming that the UFC 302 camp is the first time he’s seen Costa find a “rhythm” pre-fight.
“One week out before UFC 302 in Newark. Co-main event, but the people’s main event,” Albarracin said. “You know, I’ve never seen Paulo in a rhythm. So now he’s in a rhythm, and you’re gonna see a different Paulo Costa; refocused, recalibrated, and reloaded.”
Whether or not that translates into a standout performance inside the Prudential Center this weekend remains to be seen.
But given that Strickland only lost the title this past January, a triumph over “Tarzan” will go a major way to earning “Borrachinha” a second opportunity at achieving champ status himself on MMA’s biggest stage.
Newark, we have arrived 😤#UFC302 fight week is HERE!
[ B2YB @CryptoCom ] pic.twitter.com/CwTDv6wHnH
— UFC (@ufc) May 27, 2024
