Paulo Costa experienced defeat in his latest MMA encounter against former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. Dubbed ‘The Eraser’ or ‘Borrachinha,’ Costa faced Whittaker in the co-main event of UFC 298 on February 17, 2024.
The Brazilian fighter stunned Whittaker with a powerful wheel kick towards the end of the first round of their three-round middleweight clash. Despite this initial setback, ‘The Reaper’ weathered the storm and seemed to land more strikes than Costa in the subsequent rounds.
In the end, the judges unanimously scored the bout in favor of Whittaker, with scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27. While Judge Ron McCarthy and Judge Eliot Kelly both saw it 29-28 for ‘The Reaper,’ Judge Mike Bell gave a 30-27 verdict in favor of the New Zealand-born Australian fighter.
Following the outcome, Costa took to Twitter to address his loss and the judges’ decision, maintaining his usual upbeat social media demeanor. In his tweet, accompanied by a video showcasing his impactful head kick on Whittaker, the 32-year-old expressed gratitude to his supporters.
Costa also shared his perspective on the fight, noting that he felt he was ahead, pushing Whittaker back and causing damage to his face. However, he acknowledged the differing opinions of the judges.
Despite the setback, Costa reassured his fans that he is injury-free and promised to intensify his pressure on opponents in his future octagon appearances, aiming for a decisive finish. He concluded his tweet with appreciation for his supporters, stating:
“Hey everyone, you’re amazing, thank you all for your support. During the fight, I felt like I was winning, pressuring him back and hurting his face, but the judges thought differently. Anyway, I’m back, with no injuries, and next, I’m going to pressure even more until I finish. Love you all.”
