For a fighter with a 16-4-0 record and a reputation for power, Paulo Costa’s career has been defined as much by what happens outside the cage as inside. The Brazilian has a pattern of fight cancellations that has frustrated fans and shuffled UFC cards. Here’s what we know about his latest withdrawal, his record, and what comes next.

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Record: 16-4-0 ·
Height: 6’1″ ·
Weight: 205 lbs ·
Division: Light Heavyweight ·
Born: 21 April 1991 ·
Team: Team Borracha

Quick snapshot

1Fighter Profile
2Recent News
3Career Stats
4Recent Status

Nine key facts about Paulo Costa, drawn from official and verified sources.

Attribute Value
Full Name Paulo Henrique Costa (Sherdog (fighter database))
Nickname Borrachinha (Sherdog (fighter database))
Born 21 April 1991 (Sherdog (fighter database))
Height 6’1″ (UFC Stats (official statistics))
Weight 205 lbs (UFC.com (official site))
Reach 72″ (UFC Stats (official statistics))
Division Light Heavyweight (UFC.com (official site))
Record 16-4-0 (UFC Stats (official statistics))
Team Team Borracha (Sherdog (fighter database))

What happened with Paulo Costa?

What to watch

Costa’s inability to stay active has turned his once-promising trajectory into a career of what-ifs — each pullout reduces his stock with matchmakers and fans.

Why did Paulo Costa pull out of UFC 326?

  • The Brazilian was scheduled to face Brunno Ferreira at UFC 326, a card originally planned for March 7, 2026. According to MMA Junkie (leading MMA news outlet), Costa withdrew from the bout, adding another cancellation to his record. The exact nature of the injury has not been specified.

What is Paulo Costa’s injury status?

  • No official public statement from Costa or the UFC has detailed the injury that forced him out of UFC 326. The MMA Junkie Facebook characterized it as “another cancellation in a pattern of withdrawals,” but did not name the specific injury.

“Paulo Costa has pulled out of UFC 326, adding another cancellation to his already lengthy history of withdrawals.”

MMA Junkie Facebook

The implication: Without a clear diagnosis, speculation about Costa’s durability will persist until he strings together a consistent fight schedule.

Did Paulo Costa pull out?

The catch

Each pullout — whether from illness, injury, or other reasons — adds to a pattern that makes it harder for Costa to secure high-profile opponents.

Which fight did Paulo Costa pull out of?

  • In addition to the UFC 326 withdrawal, Costa was originally booked to face Roman Kopylov at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025. That bout was moved to UFC 318 after Costa reportedly fell ill. Sports Illustrated (mainstream sports magazine) reported that UFC 317 lost the fight, and it was cancelled from that card.

Has Paulo Costa pulled out of fights before?

  • Yes. The UFC 326 and UFC 317 incidents are part of a broader trend. Yahoo Sports (sports news) noted that Costa’s history of withdrawals has become a recurring theme, though he did rebound with a decision win over Kopylov at UFC 318 in July 2025.

“Costa rebounded with a decision over Roman Kopylov in July 2025, but his pattern of cancellations remains a concern.”

Yahoo Sports (sports news)

The pattern: When Costa stays healthy, he wins — but staying healthy has been the problem.

Where does Paulo Costa live now?

Where is Paulo Costa from?

  • Paulo Henrique Costa was born on 21 April 1991 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Sherdog (fighter database)).

Does Paulo Costa live in Brazil?

  • Yes. Costa continues to live and train in Belo Horizonte. He represents Team Borracha, the fight team he founded in his hometown (Sherdog (fighter database)).

Why this matters: Staying in Brazil means Costa trains with a smaller camp than many UFC contenders, which may affect his preparation and recovery.

How much does Paulo Costa make per fight?

What is Paulo Costa’s UFC salary?

  • Exact earnings per fight are not all publicly disclosed, but ESPN (sports media authority) lists his MMA record and career stats, and some states release disclosed pay for UFC events. Costa’s disclosed payouts have varied, with recent estimates suggesting base purses in the low six figures.

What is Paulo Costa’s net worth?

  • No verified net worth figure is available. Based on disclosed fight purses and sponsorship income, his career UFC earnings are believed to exceed $1 million, but this remains an estimate (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

The trade-off: Without consistent fights, Costa’s earning potential is capped — each missed bout means a missed payday.

What is Paulo Costa’s record?

The upshot

Despite the cancellations, Costa’s record shows he can compete at the highest level — the question is whether he’ll get the chance to do so consistently.

What is Paulo Costa’s height and weight?

  • Height: 6’1″ (UFC Stats (official statistics)). Weight: 205 lbs, placing him in the Light Heavyweight division (UFC.com (official site)). Reach: 72″ (UFC Stats (official statistics)).

What is Paulo Costa’s ranking in the UFC?

Who is Paulo Costa’s next opponent?

  • No next opponent has been officially announced following the UFC 326 withdrawal. Yahoo Sports (sports news) reported that Costa was later linked to a matchup at UFC 327, but no contract has been confirmed.

The pattern: Until he fights again, Costa will remain in ranking limbo — and each new cancellation pushes potential fights further out.

Timeline of key events

  • 21 April 1991 — Born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil (Sherdog (fighter database))
  • June 2025 — Pulls out of UFC 317 bout vs. Roman Kopylov due to illness; fight moved to UFC 318 (MMA Junkie (leading MMA news outlet))
  • July 2025 — Defeats Roman Kopylov by decision at UFC 318 (Yahoo Sports (sports news))
  • December 2025 — Reports emerge that Costa has pulled out of UFC 326 against Brunno Ferreira (MMA Junkie (leading MMA news outlet))

Confirmed facts

  • Costa pulled out of UFC 326 (MMA Junkie (leading MMA news outlet))
  • His professional record is 16-4-0 (UFC Stats (official statistics))
  • He lives in Belo Horizonte, Brazil (Sherdog (fighter database))
  • He was born on 21 April 1991 (Sherdog (fighter database))

What’s unclear

  • Reason for UFC 326 pullout (injury not specified) (MMA Junkie Facebook)
  • Reason for UFC 317 pullout (illness reported, not officially confirmed) (Instagram (medium confidence))
  • Next fight opponent and date
  • Exact earnings per fight

Related: John Cena Biography: Net Worth, Health, Retirement & More and Zelina Vega: Career, OnlyFans, Marriage & WWE Return.

Additional sources

mmajunkie.usatoday.com, espn.com

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Frequently asked questions

What is Paulo Costa’s nickname?

Borrachinha (Sherdog (fighter database)).

How old is Paulo Costa?

He was born on 21 April 1991, making him 35 years old as of 2026 (Sherdog (fighter database)).

What is Paulo Costa’s reach?

72 inches (UFC Stats (official statistics)).

Does Paulo Costa have a fight scheduled?

No. He pulled out of UFC 326, and no new bout has been announced (Yahoo Sports (sports news)).

What fighting style does Paulo Costa use?

He is a striker with a background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, known for his pressure offense and knockout power (UFC.com (official site)).

Who has Paulo Costa lost to?

His four losses include fights against Israel Adesanya, Marvin Vettori, Luke Rockhold, and Sean Strickland (UFC Stats (official statistics)).

Is Paulo Costa still in the UFC?

Yes. He remains under contract and is listed on the UFC roster (UFC.com (official site)).

What is Paulo Costa’s record by finish?

Out of 16 wins, 12 have come by knockout, 2 by submission, and 2 by decision (UFC Stats (official statistics)).

For Paulo Costa, the choice is increasingly clear: either find a way to stay consistently healthy and active, or risk being remembered more for the fights he missed than the ones he won.

Bottom line: Paulo Costa has undeniable talent and a 16-4-0 record, but his repeated cancellations — from UFC 317 to UFC 326 — are defining his career. Fans and matchmakers need him to stay in the cage. The UFC needs him to deliver on fight week.