UFC star Paulo Costa claims the organization manipulated his contract situation by offering him a short-notice match they knew he would decline, triggering an automatic six-month extension to his deal. The revelation came during an extensive interview on The Ariel Helwani Show.
Costa, who knocked out Azamat Murzakanov in April 2026, said he has been searching for a match ever since but has been met with silence from UFC brass. The situation reached a breaking point when the UFC offered him a matchup against Khalil Rountree Jr. on less than two weeks’ notice for UFC 329 in Abu Dhabi.
“They call yesterday,” Costa confirmed when asked if the UFC reached out about the Rountree matchup. He explained why the offer was unworkable: “I think it’s so short, not like less than 14 days to get a flight to Abu Dhabi. 16 hours flying to Abu Dhabi for five round for the same money and not for interim belt. I don’t think this makes sense right now.”
When asked whether he believed the UFC offered the match because he had been publicly criticizing the organization, Costa did not hold back.
“They offered that match just to get a no as answer for me,” he said. He then revealed the consequence of declining. “They extend,” Costa said. “They extend for 6 months.”
Ariel Helwani pressed further: “Do they extend your contract when you say that?”
Costa confirmed again. “They extend for 6 months,” he repeated. He acknowledged the complexity of the contract language, stating, “I don’t understand exactly how they configure that things and extensions and stuff. I’m not a law attorney. I think this is more about you need to know the small letters on the contract stuff, but I’m a figh ter. I just fig ht.”
Costa made clear that he believes the short-notice offer was designed specifically to trigger the extension clause.
Helwani agreed with the assessment, telling Costa, “It feels to me like, ‘Hey, oh yeah, you want to complain publicly. How about you fight Magomed Ankalaev on 13 days notice?'”
Costa followed it up by replying, “In Abu Dhabi for five rounds for the same money.”
The Brazilian star, who currently weighs 234 lbs (106 kg), said he needs roughly seven to eight weeks to properly make the light heavyweight limit, making a two-week turnaround impossible.
He also noted that he asked whether the pay would increase for such a significant opportunity. “I asked. They say they’re not going to raise the money something significantly,” Costa explained.
Costa drew comparisons between the UFC’s tactics and their past treatment of former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
“Francis was one of these guys. They push so hard, push so hard and they push him away and they give him to big events like PFL,” he said.
Despite his frustrations, Costa remains determined to see out the final match on his current contract. “I want to finish this contract,” he stated plainly. When asked if he wants to be a free agent, he replied, “Or give me an offer. A big offer, not a bad offer. Give me a good offer and I’m going to talk. But they prefer not talk. They prefer not go to the table.”
