In the aftermath of UFC 328, the MMA world is buzzing—and not just about Khamzat Chimaev's first career loss. Paulo Costa has poured fuel on the fire, declaring that Chimaev will never be the same fighter after falling short against Sean Strickland in Saturday's main event.
Chimaev, known as 'Borz,' started strong but visibly faded after the second round. That opening allowed Strickland to seize control in the middle rounds before Chimaev mounted a late rally that ultimately fell short. It was a stunning turn for a fighter who had steamrolled every opponent before him.
In the aftermath, Chimaev told UFC president Dana White that he no longer wants to compete at middleweight, hinting strongly at a move up to light heavyweight. This wasn't entirely out of left field—even before his first title defense, Chimaev had suggested he didn't see a long-term future at 185 pounds.
Costa, who was once scheduled to face Chimaev at UFC 294 in 2023 before an injury forced him out, responded to a fan on social media who wondered if the fight could still happen. "He was never there. This match was supposed to happen two years ago. It is too late," Costa wrote.
The Brazilian didn't stop there. "People, listen to me. Gourmet Chechen is done. He is over," Costa posted on X (formerly Twitter). "Will never be back, stop mentioning a possibility to make this match. We've great (other) warriors to set up a big fight."
The timing of Costa's comments adds another layer of intrigue. With Chimaev's reputation already cemented as one of the most feared fighters in the sport, his light heavyweight debut is expected to carry immediate title implications. Carlos Ulberg remains sidelined with an ACL injury, and whispers are growing about a potential interim belt—with Chimaev possibly in the mix.
For fight fans, this saga is far from over. Whether Costa's prediction proves prophetic or just another chapter in MMA's endless drama, one thing is certain: the landscape of both the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions just got a lot more interesting.