In what has become one of the most memorable pre-fight interactions in UFC history, Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori’s 2021 media day confrontation left fans and journalists alike bewildered and amused.
The drama began when Costa arrived for media week significantly overweight for their scheduled middleweight bout. Rather than addressing the issue directly, Costa engaged in what can only be described as a masterclass in confusion.
“Why do you want to know my weight?” Costa questioned Vettori during their face-to-face media interaction, seemingly baffled by the basic expectation that fighters make their contracted weight.
Vettori, visibly frustrated, attempted to bring logic to the conversation: “Every fighter here in the building, we’re in the same building, basically. Every fighter here is supposed to make weight.”
Costa’s response only added to the surreal nature of the exchange. “Which weight do you’re supposed to be on Friday? You make on Friday, 185, 195, 205. You choice. I don’t care too,” he said, casually suggesting that Vettori could simply pick whichever weight class he preferred.
The Italian fighter, known as “The Italian Dream,” could barely contain his disbelief. “This is getting funny, bro. Like, what? I don’t even know what to say.”
The exchange highlighted the sometimes chaotic nature of weight cutting in combat sports. What was meant to be a standard pre-fight media obligation turned into an absurdist comedy routine, with Costa seemingly rewriting the rules of professional fighting on the spot.
Despite the weight controversy, the bout eventually proceeded at light heavyweight (205 pounds), with Vettori claiming victory via unanimous decision. The fight itself proved to be entertaining, but it was this pre-fight interaction that cemented its place in MMA lore.
For Costa, this incident marked a peculiar chapter in his otherwise serious career. The Brazilian powerhouse, who had previously challenged for the middleweight title, found himself going viral not for his fighting prowess but for what many fans referred to as “next-level gaslighting” of his opponent.
Years later, this exchange remains a favorite clip among MMA fans, regularly resurfacing on social media as an example of one of the sport’s most bizarre and entertaining moments outside the octagon.
Paulo Costa returns to the Octagon at UFC 317 on June 29 in Las Vegas, facing off against dangerous striker Roman Kopylov in what feels like a make-or-break moment for the former title challenger. Once a rising star with an unbeaten record and a fan-favorite brawler style, Costa has gone just 1-4 since his 2020 title loss to Israel Adesanya, with recent decision defeats to Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland further dimming his shine. Now 34, Costa is looking to rediscover the ferocity that once made him a top contender, but he faces a hungry and in-form Kopylov who’s won six of his last seven and is eyeing a leap into the top ten. For Costa, it’s not just about winning—it’s about proving he still belongs among the elite.
