Paulo Costa took aim at the UFC and Dana White in a deleted social-media post, accusing the promotion of poor matchmaking and claiming its president has become distracted by boxing. The light heavyweight contender also argued that Alexander Volkov should be next in line for a UFC heavyweight title fight.
Costa’s post, shared on X before it was removed, read: “The UFC seems lost-lacking focus and direction.” He continued: “Fight cards are cobbled together from whatever is left over, and Dana White mixes up fighters’ names; he appears more focused on boxing and his rivalry with Eddie Hearn than on the company he built.
Costa then turned to the heavyweight division. “Volkov should be fighting for the heavyweight title; great matchups aren’t happening due to sheer incompetence. After all, empires often crumble from within,” the post added.
Paulo Costa Says UFC Is “Lost” as He Takes Aim at Dana White
The Brazilian’s remarks arrive during a public dispute with the UFC over the final bout of his current deal. Costa, 35, has said he has one fight left on his contract and wants either a three-round assignment, a higher purse for a five-round fight, or his release. He has said that his contracted pay is set for three rounds, while the offers put to him have involved five-round contests.
Dana White has offered a different version of events. Speaking after Costa raised his concerns online, the UFC CEO said the former middleweight title challenger had been offered fights and chosen to turn them down. White said fighters are regularly presented with three opportunities per year and rejected the idea that the promotion had frozen Costa out.
Costa later acknowledged receiving proposals, listing five-round opportunities in Doha, Abu Dhabi on six days’ notice and Salt Lake City. His response framed the dispute around compensation: “PAY FOR 3, GET 5.” The criticism marks a shift from Costa’s comments earlier this year, when he said White was missed in the UFC’s matchmaking process and described the promotion as “lost” without greater involvement from its longtime leader.
Since then, Costa has signed with Eddie Hearn’s management team while White’s public tension with the British boxing promoter has continued. Costa’s latest message also referenced White’s UFC 332 fight-week error involving Natalia Silva and Wang Cong’s records. That moment became part of his claim that White has lost track of details inside the roster while expanding his interests in boxing.
On the sporting side, Costa’s frustration follows his April knockout of Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327, a result that moved him into the light heavyweight title conversation. He has yet to receive a confirmed next fight, and his contract position has turned every public exchange into part matchmaking complaint, part negotiation.
