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<p>Paulo Costa is a Brazilian mixed martial artist best known for competing in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He gained widespread recognition following his high-profile victory over top <a href="/biography/yoel-romero">contender</a> <a href="/biography/yoel-romero">Yoel Romero</a>.</p>

<h2>Early Life and Background</h2>

<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Costa">Paulo Henrique Costa</a> was born on April 21, 1991, in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. His nickname, "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Costa">Borrachinha</a>," which means "Little Rubber" in Portuguese, was given to him by his older brother, who believed Paulo had elastic-like qualities due to his athleticism and physique. Prior to starting his professional MMA career, Costa worked as a real estate agent. His passion for combat sports began to grow significantly around 2012, when he started training seriously in mixed martial arts.</p>

<p>Standing at 6 feet 1 inch tall and competing primarily at middleweight (185 pounds), Costa brings physical prowess and intensity to each of his fights.</p>

<h2>Mixed Martial Arts Career and UFC Milestones</h2>

<p>Costa made a rapid impact in Brazil’s regional MMA scene, claiming several titles including the Mineiro Jiu-Jitsu Championship, the MMA Face to Face Middleweight Championship, and a victory in Jungle Fight, one of Brazil’s most prominent local promotions. His early success caught the attention of national promoters, leading to his selection for The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3, a UFC-produced reality series that helped showcase his potential to a wider audience.</p>

<p>In his official UFC debut in 2017, Costa defeated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garreth_McLellan">Garreth McLellan</a> by TKO, making an immediate statement in the middleweight division. He followed that performance with a second-round TKO victory over <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oluwale_Bamgbose">Oluwale Bamgbose</a>. After a brief contractual disagreement with UFC management, Costa returned to action and secured a dominant win over former <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johny_Hendricks">welterweight champion</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johny_Hendricks">Johny Hendricks</a>, further establishing himself as a major contender.</p>

<p>Costa's fighting style—marked by aggressive striking and knockout power—quickly earned him a reputation as a fan favorite. Notably, he remained undefeated through his first 13 professional fights, with 11 wins by knockout, one by submission and one by decision. Among his notable victories was a TKO win over <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uriah_Hall">Uriah Hall</a>.</p>

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<h2>UFC 241 and Title Contention</h2>

<p>At UFC 241 in August 2019, Costa faced his toughest opponent yet in <a href="/biography/yoel-romero">Yoel Romero</a>. The fight was highly anticipated, as <a href="/biography/yoel-romero">Romero</a> was returning after more than a year away following his June 2018 loss to champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 225. Costa won the closely contested bout via unanimous decision, though the result was controversial and met with loud boos from the audience, many of whom favored <a href="/biography/yoel-romero">Romero</a>. Despite the crowd's reaction, the win positioned Costa as the next top contender for the UFC Middleweight Championship.</p>

<p>Costa challenged Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 253 in September 2020 and lost by second-round TKO, the first defeat of his career. He then lost a decision to Marvin Vettori in 2021, beat Luke Rockhold by decision at UFC 278 in 2022, and lost decisions to Robert Whittaker (UFC 298) and Sean Strickland (UFC 302) in 2024. He returned to winning ways with a unanimous decision over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318 in July 2025, and in April 2026 moved up to light heavyweight, stopping previously unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov with head kicks in the third round at UFC 327, improving his record to 16–4.</p>

<h2>Personal Life and Social Media Presence</h2>

<p>As of now, Paulo Costa is not married and does not have children. His long-time partner, Tamara Alves, has also served as his manager. He has chosen to dedicate the majority of his time and energy to his fighting career. Costa is also active on social media, particularly Instagram, where he has amassed a following of over 450,000 fans. Through his platform, he shares training updates, promotional content, and glimpses into his life outside the cage.</p>

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