It seems that both sides of a possible Marvin Vettori vs Paulo Costa matchup are interested in making the fight a reality. Setting up a pivotal battle in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s middleweight top-five
Marvin Vettori vs Paulo Costa could be on the way
Earlier tonight, ESPN reporter Brett Okamoto took to Twitter about a recent conversation he had with Costa’s manager Wallid Ismail.
“Asked MMA manager Wallid Ismail for an update on Paulo Costa. He said the fight he wants to make and is pushing UFC for is Marvin Vettori. Both talk trash, fun matchup. Wallid is trying to make it from his end,” Okamoto wrote.
Both Costa and Vettori are the last two men to challenge current middleweight king Israel Adesanya for his 185-pound title.
Less than an hour later, Ali Abdel-Aziz, Vettori’s representation and the head of Dominance Management responded to the report by saying, “We ready just call,” and tagging UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard in the tweet.
A scrap between the two became a possibility following Vettori’s UFC 263 defeat to “The Last Stylebender.” At the post-fight press conference, the 27-year-old suggested a booking with the Brazilian when he said, “I’d like to really destroy this drunk guy.” Making reference to Costa’s claims of drinking too much wine the night before his own loss to Adesanya.
Costa, 30, clapped back at the Italian on Twitter a couple of days later with, “I could fight this Moron if he show to fight like that.” And attached a now-infamous picture of Vettori wearing his Venum fight shorts backward.
Costa has not stepped back into the Octagon since his UFC 253 loss to the champion in September 2020. He had two separate bookings planned this year against Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier. However, due to health reasons, Costa was unable to make either date.
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