Paulo Costa Bio
Paulo Henrique Costa, widely known by the nickname “Borrachinha” (sometimes translated as “The Eraser”), is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who has competed at the highest levels of the sport. Born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on 21 April 1991, he is best known for his powerful striking and durable frame inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of mid-2025, he is recognized as one of the most recognizable middleweights in the promotion, and he has since moved into the light heavyweight ranks as well.
Trained primarily under coach Eric Albarracin and affiliated with Fight Ready since 2017, Costa blends Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu credentials with knockout power. Outside the cage, he is recognized for his colorful personality and his brother Carlos Costa, a former mixed martial artist who helps coach him. He continues to be a featured name on major UFC cards.
Early Life and Background
Paulo Henrique Costa was born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1991. He is the son of Carlos Roberto, an odd-jobber, and Maria Augusta. Costa grew up in the neighboring city of Contagem, where he spent much of his childhood playing football with friends. His older brother, Carlos Costa, would later become a mixed martial artist and one of Paulo’s coaches.
As a young boy, Costa was frequently getting into street fights around his neighborhood. At the age of nine, his family encouraged him to start training Muay Thai as a way to channel his energy and learn discipline. As a teenager, he joined a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym alongside his brother, but he eventually quit the sport after the death of his father from throat cancer when Paulo was 17 years old.
A couple of years later, Costa returned to jiu-jitsu and began competing under the tutelage of his brother, who was already a purple belt. To help his mother with household bills, he also worked in real estate and as an Information Technology teacher, instructing students in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. Eventually, his brother convinced their mother to financially support Paulo for a year so he could pursue mixed martial arts full-time.
Path to MMA
Costa made his professional mixed martial arts debut in his native Brazil in February 2012. Competing as a middleweight, he built a reputation as a finisher, racking up victories across regional shows. Over the next five years on the Brazilian circuit, he compiled an undefeated record of 8-0, with seven of those wins coming by knockout and one by submission.
Before joining the UFC, Costa sharpened his skills with several Brazilian fight teams, including Team Nogueira, Champion Team, and Clube Atlético Mineiro. He was also selected to appear on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3, where he defeated José Roberto by submission (guillotine choke) in the second round of the elimination round. He was chosen by coach Wanderlei Silva, but his next appearance resulted in a split decision loss to Márcio Alexandre Jr. after three rounds.
Paulo Costa Career
Early Career (2012-2016)
During his early professional years, Costa built a record on the Brazilian regional circuit that showcased heavy hands and aggressive finishing instincts. Seven of his first eight victories came by way of knockout, a streak that quickly drew the attention of major promotions. His time with teams such as Team Nogueira and Champion Team provided him with structured training environments and a deeper understanding of well-rounded mixed martial arts.
By the time he earned his place on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3, Costa was already considered a dangerous prospect. Though he was eliminated before the finale, his appearance on the reality series gave him the platform he needed to secure a UFC contract.
UFC Breakthrough (2017-2019)
Costa made his UFC promotional debut on 11 March 2017, at UFC Fight Night 106 against Garreth McLellan. He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round, earning his first Performance of the Night award. He followed that up with a second-round TKO victory over Oluwale Bamgbose at UFC 212 in June 2017, and a second-round TKO of former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks at UFC 217 in November 2017. Following the Hendricks win, he signed a new multi-fight contract with the promotion.
In 2018, Costa was originally booked against Uriah Hall at UFC Fight Night 128, but pulled out in mid-March due to an arm injury. The bout was rescheduled for UFC 226 on 7 July 2018, where Costa won by technical knockout in the second round to claim his second Performance of the Night award.
It was later revealed that Costa had been suspended for six months by the United States Anti-Doping Agency and Comissão Atlética Brasileira de MMA for receiving prohibited intravenous infusions after weigh-ins. The suspension was retroactive and he became eligible to compete again in February 2019.
Costa finally faced Yoel Romero on 17 August 2019, at UFC 241 and won by unanimous decision, earning the Fight of the Night award. The win capped off a five-fight UFC winning streak and set up a title shot.
Title Shot and Middleweight Setbacks (2020-2024)
On 27 September 2020, at UFC 253, Costa faced Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the second round, marking the first professional defeat of his career. After the loss, he was scheduled to face Robert Whittaker at UFC on ESPN 22 in April 2021, but withdrew due to illness and was replaced by Kelvin Gastelum.
Later in 2021, Costa was booked against Jared Cannonier at UFC on ESPN 29, but withdrew for unknown reasons. He then faced Marvin Vettori in a light heavyweight bout on 23 October 2021, at UFC Fight Night 196, after arriving twenty-five pounds over the middleweight limit. He lost the bout by unanimous decision.
In 2022, Costa faced former middleweight champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 278 and won by unanimous decision, earning another Fight of the Night award. Scheduled bouts against Robert Whittaker at UFC 284 in February 2023 and Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 291 in July 2023 fell through, and a planned contest with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023 was scrapped after Costa withdrew due to injury.
Costa faced Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 on 17 February 2024, but lost by unanimous decision. He followed that with a split decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 302 on 1 June 2024.
Light Heavyweight Move (2025-2026)
Returning to the win column, Costa was originally scheduled to face Roman Kopylov at UFC 317 in June 2025, but the bout was moved to UFC 318, where he won by unanimous decision on 19 July 2025. He was later booked against Sharabutdin Magomedov at UFC Fight Night 265 in November 2025, but Magomedov withdrew due to nose surgery.
After withdrawing from a scheduled bout with Brunno Ferreira at UFC 326 in March 2026, Costa made his light heavyweight debut against Azamat Murzakanov in the co-main event of UFC 327 on 11 April 2026. Costa won the bout by technical knockout via head kick in the third round, handing Murzakanov the first loss of his professional career. As of 14 April 2026, he is ranked #7 in the UFC light heavyweight rankings.
Style and Strengths
Costa is known for his aggressive, pressure-based striking style, combining heavy hands with strong body work and forward movement. Standing 6 feet tall with a 72-inch reach, he uses his size and power to break down opponents at mid and close range. On the ground, he holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, complementing his striking arsenal. He has trained under coach Eric Albarracin at Fight Ready since 2017.
Notable Events and Milestones
Some of Costa’s signature moments include his second-round TKO of former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks at UFC 217 and his unanimous decision victory over Yoel Romero at UFC 241, both of which earned him Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses. He has also captured Fight of the Night honors for his win over Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. His 2026 head-kick knockout of previously unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov marked his first finish in years and signaled his arrival in a new division.
Paulo Costa Career Wins
Throughout his professional career that began in 2012, Paulo Henrique Costa has compiled a record that includes multiple knockout finishes, submission victories, and decision wins across regional Brazilian shows and the UFC. His victories have come in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, with several performances earning post-fight bonuses from the promotion.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Costa’s biggest win came against Yoel Romero at UFC 241, where he outpointed one of the most dangerous middleweights in the sport over three rounds. He also scored decisive victories over former champions and top contenders, including Luke Rockhold and Johny Hendricks. His most recent finish came in April 2026, when he knocked out previously unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov with a third-round head kick at UFC 327.
Other Wins and Performances
Before joining the UFC, Costa went 8-0 on the Brazilian regional scene, finishing seven opponents by knockout and one by submission. He also appeared on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3, where he submitted José Roberto via guillotine choke in the elimination round. Across his entire career, his professional record features finishes and decisions in roughly equal measure, reflecting his well-rounded development as a mixed martial artist.
Paulo Costa Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Paulo Costa comes from a close-knit family in Minas Gerais, Brazil. He is the son of Carlos Roberto and Maria Augusta, and grew up with his older brother, Carlos Costa. The brothers share a deep bond through martial arts, with Carlos becoming a former mixed martial artist and one of Paulo’s longtime coaches.
Personal Life
Costa currently resides in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, the same city where he was born. Outside of training, he has been open about the role his family plays in his career, including the emotional impact of his father’s death from throat cancer when he was 17. That loss briefly pushed him away from jiu-jitsu before his brother helped him return to the sport and eventually transition to professional mixed martial arts.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a transitional chapter for Paulo Costa. After a stretch of cancellations and disputed bookings, he returned to the middleweight division to face Roman Kopylov at UFC 318 on 19 July 2025, earning a clean unanimous decision win that helped him reset his momentum. The victory gave him a much-needed boost and signaled that he remained a dangerous contender in a crowded UFC middleweight field.
Following the win, Costa was scheduled to face Sharabutdin Magomedov at UFC Fight Night 265 in November 2025, but the bout was scrapped after Magomedov withdrew due to nose surgery. The cancellation opened the door for new opportunities, including a planned light heavyweight move later in the cycle.
Looking ahead, Costa was eventually booked to face Brunno Ferreira at UFC 326 in March 2026, but withdrew for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Gregory Rodrigues. Despite the late setback, his earlier 2025 win kept him relevant in the rankings, and the groundwork was laid for his eventual light heavyweight debut against Azamat Murzakanov in April 2026.
