Tempers flared at UFC 328 as undefeated rising star Josh Hokit and middleweight contender Paulo Costa found themselves in a heated face-off that required security intervention. The altercation took place Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, proving that these two fighters have not let bygones be bygones.

Hokit, who boasts a perfect 9-0 record, has been turning heads with his bold trash talk—and Costa (16-4) has taken notice. Both fighters competed on the same UFC 327 card last month, where Hokit earned "Fight of the Night" honors by defeating Curtis Blaydes, while Costa handed Azamat Murzakanov his first professional loss. The momentum from those victories has only added fuel to their growing rivalry.

In a twist that adds even more drama, Hokit was quickly booked to face Derrick Lewis at UFC White House on June 14. However, Costa later volunteered to step in as a replacement opponent for Hokit, signaling that the tension between them is far from over. Interestingly, Hokit and Lewis recently appeared to squash their own beef after sharing a laugh over an Instagram post, suggesting that while the rivalry with Costa remains unsettled, there may not be deep-seated animosity between all parties involved.

For fight fans, this is the kind of simmering conflict that makes the UFC so compelling—two elite athletes with contrasting styles and plenty of bad blood, all but daring each other to settle it inside the Octagon. Whether this leads to a future booking or just more fireworks at events, one thing is clear: the Hokit-Costa story is far from finished.