If Paulo Costa wants a shot at the interim UFC light heavyweight title he better ask former division champion Alex Peieira first.
As you know, UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg underwent knee surgery back in April following his TKO win over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 327. Ulberg and Prochazka fought for the vacant 205-pound strap after Pereira decided to move up to heavyweight to fight Ciryl Gane at the UFC White House card, which Pereira lost via second-round knockout (watch HERE).
With “Black
Jag” currently sidelined, UFC’s light heavyweight division needs some movement in the second half of the year. That has left a door open for Costa, a former UFC middleweight title challenger, to step in and potentially fight for an interim title. Costa recently returned to the light heavyweight division at UFC 327 and delivered an upset knockout win over previously undefeated contender Azamat Murzakanov.
It might make sense for UFC matchmakers to ride the hot hand and grant Costa a 205-pound title shot, but it sounds like they’ll have to run it past Pereira. That’s because the former UFC double champion sent a warning to Costa earlier this week that he can step back in at light heavyweight any time he wants and get an immediate title shot. “Poatan” is probably right, but it’s not something Costa wants to hear from his fellow Brazilian.
Check it out below:
“I’m just gonna say, if Ulberg is gonna be out for so long due to injury, who are they gonna put in for an interim title fight right now?” asked Costa during a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani show.
“It is not a provocation! But I see that you’re outdated, and I understand why, because it’s been a while since you signed your contract, and a lot of things have changed,” said Pereira in response (via Bloody Elbow).
“If I want to compete for the light heavyweight belt, I can do this! A lot of fighters are waiting or working to get to that opportunity, and I went and took the opportunity. But now I want something more, which is the third belt. I have to take risks, because, if I hadn’t taken risks in all my struggles, I wouldn’t have conquered all that I have conquered.”
