Tag: Paulo Costa

Video: Former UFC champ Sean Strickland keeps making headlines

Our “Spinning Back Clique” discusses the latest reasons Sean Strickland has been making headlines.

[autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] continues to make headlines in and out of the octagon, for better or worse.

Before losing the middleweight title to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297, Strickland made headlines that reached far beyond the MMA bubble because of his homophobic tirade during media day. It didn’t take long after the event for Strickland to keep his name in the news cycle.

Strickland recently sparred the popular streamer Sneako, leaving him bloodied after going way too hard on someone who is not a professional fighter, and does not remotely possess the fighting skills of a former UFC champion.

Then, at a recent Power Slap event, Strickland made headlines again for actions outside of the octagon as he got into a verbal altercation with musical artist Machine Gun Kelly.

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Farah Hannoun, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Danny Segura discuss the latest with Strickland with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia, and whether or not the UFC should intervene in some capacity.

Check out their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s full episode on YouTube or in podcast form below.

https://www.youtube.com/live/DpQXebnLHXU?si=PEqd-7rByiGTULnV

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UFC 298 ‘Embedded,’ No. 6: ‘I’m going to make history tomorrow night’

In the final installment of UFC 298 “Embedded,” fighters step on the official scale and have their final staredowns before fight night.

The UFC is back for its second pay-per-view of 2024, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

In the main event, UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) attempts another successful title defense, this time against [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC). Middleweight contenders [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) face off in a long-awaited showdown in the co-main event.

Also on the card, a grudge match between [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) finally materializes after [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and [autotag]Merab Dvalishivili[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) jostle for position atop the bantamweight division.

The sixth and final episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

“Athletes weigh in and UFC 298 is set: champ Alexander Volkanovski vs Ilia Topuria, Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa, Geoff Neal vs Ian Machado Garry, Merab Dvalishvilli vs Henry Cejudo and more.”

Also see:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

Video: Which fight is the hidden gem of UFC 298?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel takes their pick of which UFC 298 fight is flying under the radar.

UFC 298 is topped by a fantastic title fight in the featherweight division.

Aside from [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]’s return to the 145-pound division to defend his title against an undefeated [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag], there are plenty of solid matchups throughout the card that could potentially steal the show.

But which of the bunch is the true hidden gem? Is it the main card opener [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Roman Kopylov[/autotag]? How about former two-division champ [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] taking on [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]? What about another former titleholder [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] taking on [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag]?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Farah Hannoun, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Danny Segura take their picks with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

Check out their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s full episode on YouTube or in podcast form below.

https://www.youtube.com/live/DpQXebnLHXU?si=PEqd-7rByiGTULnV

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

UFC 298 ‘Embedded,’ No. 5: Inside Merab Dvalishvili’s room as he suits up for the press conference

In the fifth installment of UFC 298 “Embedded,” Merab Dvalishvili makes sure he’s sharply dressed for his press conference appearance.

The UFC is back for its second pay-per-view of 2024, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

In the main event, UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) attempts another successful title defense, this time against [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC). Middleweight contenders [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) face off in a long-awaited showdown in the co-main event.

Also on the card, a grudge match between [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) finally materializes after [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and [autotag]Merab Dvalishivili[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) jostle for position atop the bantamweight division.

The fifth episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

“Champ Alex Volkanovski trains. Robert Whittaker and Henry Cejudo talk to the broadcast team. Merab Dvalishvili suits up for the presser. Whittaker faces off with Paulo Costa; Volkanovski dozes as Ilia Topuria eyes his belt.”

Also see:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

UFC 298 video: Robert Whittaker, Paulo Costa make weight for key middleweight bout

The UFC 298 co-main event is locked in after Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa made weight for their crucial middleweight bout.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The UFC 298 co-main event is locked in after [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] and [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] made weight for their crucial middleweight bout.

After the past three UFC events featured middleweight headliners, including the crowning of a new champion in Dricus Du Plessis this past month, it’s time for former titleholder Whittaker (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) and perennial contender Costa (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) to take their turn to make an impression on the division.

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First, however, both men had to make weight. They did just that at Friday’s official weigh-ins, with Whittaker stepping on the scale at 185.5 pounds and Costa registering that same number.

Check out the video above to see Whittaker and Costa weigh in ahead of UFC 298.

UFC 298 takes place Saturday at Honda Center. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

UFC 298 breakdown: Will Paulo Costa erase former champ Robert Whittaker?

MMA Junkie fight analyst Dan Tom takes a closer look at the UFC 298 co-feature, Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa.

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the co-main event for UFC 298.

UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Video: UFC 298 press conference faceoffs with Whittaker-Costa, Neal-Garry, Dvalishvili-Cejudo

The stacked UFC 298 main card engaged in faceoffs following Thursday’s pre-fight press conference.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The UFC 298 pre-fight press conference went down Thursday and it was the initial opportunity to get a look at fighter staredowns for the second numbered event of 2024.

The card, which is headlined by a featherweight title bout between [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) and [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), goes down Saturday at Honda Center with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

In addition to the main event, a stacked slate of matchups round out the undercard. That includes [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) vs. [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) vs. [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) vs. [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] (11-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) vs. [autotag]Roman Kopylov[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC).

All five pairings were in attendance at the pre-fight press conference, where they answered questions and engaged in faceoffs.

Check out the video above to see all the staredowns.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

Paulo Costa: After I beat Robert Whittaker at UFC 298, I don’t want to hear Khamzat Chimaev’s name

Paulo Costa apparently is over the idea of fighting Khamzat Chimaev.

IRVINE, Calif. – [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] has moved past [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag].

Costa was scheduled to fight Chimaev this past October at UFC 294, but an elbow infection forced him out of the bout. Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman stepped in on short notice but fell short in a majority decision loss to Chimaev.

Costa (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) meets Robert Whittaker (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) co-main event at Honda Center in Anaheim. He has no interest in rebooking the Chimaev fight and questions his resume at middleweight.

“Everybody knows I don’t like the guy, but I don’t think too many people take him seriously anymore,” Costa said at Wednesday’s UFC 298 media day. “He just stopped fighting. He didn’t beat anybody in the middleweight division, top contenders or even top 15. He didn’t beat anybody in the top 15 middleweight division. How can you take this guy seriously?

“He barely could beat Usman in 10-day short notice. Usman is a welterweight. He didn’t cut weight to middleweight, and everybody saw that fight. I was there. I like this beef between countries and cultures and two guys, but after I beat Whittaker, I will not want to hear his name. F*ck him. He needs to do something. He needs to beat somebody at least top 10 in the middleweight. He didn’t yet, and I don’t think he’s capable to do that.”

Costa is eyeing a title shot with a win over Whittaker. He sees former champion Whittaker as a far more formidable opponent than Chimaev.

“Of course, I would have loved to fight him in Abu Dhabi,” Costa said. “It didn’t happen, OK, I was frustrated, but I’m here right now and I’m going to fight a guy more qualified than him. Whittaker has better credentials than him. So, I don’t believe he’s going to jump and fight for the belt before me.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

UFC 298 ‘Embedded,’ No. 4: Chef Alexander Volkanovski serves team despite cutting weight

On the fourth episode of UFC 298 “Embedded,” Alexander Volkanovski flexes his cooking skills and his will power while cutting weight.

The UFC is back for its second pay-per-view of 2024, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

In the main event, UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) attempts another successful title defense, this time against [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC). Middleweight contenders [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) face off in a long-awaited showdown in the co-main event.

Also on the card, a grudge match between [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) finally materializes after [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and [autotag]Merab Dvalishivili[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) jostle for position atop the bantamweight division.

The fourth episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

“Merab Dvalishvili hits the open road. Paulo Costa refuses to rest. Champ Alexander Volkanovski cooks. Dvalishvili offers Aljo a new job. Robert Whittaker chats with Ian Garry Machado and Michael Bisping; Ilia Topuria feels out the belt.”

Also see:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

Israel Adesanya: Paulo Costa ‘doesn’t really mix it up,’ loses to Robert Whittaker at UFC 298

Israel Adesanya believes Robert Whittaker has more tools to win than Paulo Costa at UFC 298.

[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] believes [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] has more tools to win than [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag].

Whittaker (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) takes on Costa (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) co-main event at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Former middleweight champion Adesanya has knocked out both fighters in title fights but expects Whittaker’s grappling to play a key factor. He believes Costa’s approach is limited.

“Stylistically, I will say I think Rob’s going to wrestle him,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “Rob can definitely land the takedown. Maybe not early on. Early on, I think it’d be f*cking hard. Rob will be at the distance. Faints, pump faking, doing his f*cking oblique kick. Costa will – I don’t think he’ll try and bait Rob or anything like that. I think he’ll go to Rob. I think he might not respect Rob unless Rob gets some respect straight away with the jab or his leg kicks or right hand or something.

“Costa will try and walk him down. If Rob’s smart, don’t get to the fence because that’s when he’ll bully you. Use good footwork. If Rob ends up behind the black line, that’s when Costa’s going to put that pressure and just try and body work him, because he does his best work when people are on the fence. Footwork from Rob to stay away from the fence. Costa to win, he just has to maybe – he doesn’t really mix it up. He barely kicks, like low kicks or anything. He likes to box, boxing heavy. I think against Rob that’s very limited.”

Adesanya predicts that former champion Whittaker will get his hand raised.

“I feel Rob will win by decision, UD (unanimous decision),” Adesanya concluded. “He’s going to land a couple takedowns. Depends who shows up. He might rock Costa, but I don’t think so.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.