Derek Brunson explains Paulo Costa callout after UFC on ESPN 21 win

LAS VEGAS – Derek Brunson has his sights set on a showdown with Paulo Costa after winning the UFC on ESPN 21 main event.

After pulling off yet another upset against a surging middleweight in Kevin Holland in Saturday’s headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Brunson (22-7 MMA, 13-5 UFC) now finds himself on a four-fight winning streak and primed for a top-ranked matchup.

He felt he deserved as much after beating Edmen Shahbazyan as an underdog in his previous outing, but is leaving no doubts about his desires. He said immediately after the win in his post-fight interview with Paul Felder that he wanted Costa (14-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) next, and he elaborated why at the post-fight news conference.

“I can’t really say I was too excited about this fight (with Holland),” Brunson told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “I was asking for guys like Costa. I was cool with a Robert Whittaker rematch. I want one of these top guys that’s really going to elevate me. So this was a fight where I had to hold serve. I want a guy that will really elevate me that I can get really excited for and really feel like this is the fight for me.”

Costa was originally scheduled to fight Robert Whittaker in the UFC Fight Night headliner on April 17. However, he recently withdrew from the bout due to illness and was replaced by Kelvin Gastelum.

That leaves the Brazilian, who is coming off a title-fight loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 253 in September, without an obvious next opponent. Brunson wants to be that guy, and he said he hopes for it to happen soon.

“I got a little cut (on my face),” Brunson said.” I’m going to take some time and let it heal, but I want to get back in there in a couple months. Get a fight going. So that’s kind of where I’m at.”