Paulo Costa mocked for demanding title shot ahead of crucial UFC 298 bout: “Needs to fight Khamzat next”

Paulo Costa will look to continue his winning ways against Robert Whittaker in the co-main event of UFC 298. Costa last fought at UFC 278 against Luke Rockhold in a fight that bagged an extra $50,000 for both as it won the Fight of the Night bonus.

Costa recently revealed his plans after UFC 298 which is a middleweight title shot against champion Dricus du Plessis. Let’s take a look at how fans reacted to Costa demanding the title shot.

Fans troll Paulo Costa for demanding title shot

Paulo Costa was panned by fans on social media after he revealed that he is looking forward to earning a title shot after victory over Whittaker at UFC 298. “I don’t see it any different than going straight for the belt after beating Robert Whittaker on Saturday. I have no other way to go, I think,” Costa stated his claim.

“After beating him, you know, when you look at the whole division, you have a popular guy who fights the way the people want to see, the people like to see the fights going on, and that’s me. So, beating him, I will be the next in line,” Costa further explained his claim for the title.

Nonetheless, fight fans did not see it like Costa as they brutally trolled the former title challenger. “Bro needs to fight Khamzat next,” commented one fan, who believed that a win over Whittaker should not guarantee a title shot.

“😂😂😂 bro probably won’t even make weight,” commented another fan, who trolled Costa as the fan subtly mentioned Costa’s weight miss debacle before his 185lbs fight with Marvin Vettori which they eventually fought 205lbs

Paulo Costa takes sly dig at Khamzat Chimaev

Paulo Costa was originally scheduled to fight Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event of UFC 294 but he withdrew due to staph infection and was replaced by Kamaru Usman on 10 days notice. Costa and Chimaev have an ongoing feud, evident from Costa’s comments about Chimaev at the pre-fight press conference.

“Everybody knows I don’t like the guy, but I don’t think too many people take him seriously anymore. You know, he just stopped fighting. He didn’t beat anybody in the middle division, top contenders, or even top 15,” Costa bashed Chimaev for his lack of victories against top contenders at middleweight. “He didn’t beat anybody in the top 10 or top 15 middleweight division. How can you take this guy seriously?”

“You know, he barely could beat Usman with 10 days’ short notice. Usman is a welterweight; he didn’t cut weight to middleweight, and everybody saw that fight. I was there,” Costa went on to bash Chimaev for his inability to win spectacularly at UFC 294 against Kamaru Usman.

“Robert Whittaker has better credentials than he ever had,” Costa concluded by praising his opponent Whittaker, whom he felt is more credentialed than Chimaev, as Whittaker is a former champion with losses only to the champions in the division.

Do you think Paulo Costa will get the next title shot at middleweight? Leave your prediction below!