LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 196 provided one of the most unique fighter weight issues we’ve ever seen.
When middleweight headliner Paulo Costa arrived for fight week, he was heavy – and too heavy, apparently, to even attempt a cut to 186 pounds. So he asked for a fight at a higher weight against Marvin Vettori, and they settled up 20 pounds at light heavyweight.
Despite that situation, and his seemingly nonchalant attitude toward the whole thing, the fight went on – and Costa (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) looked good in a fun fight with Vettori (18-4-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC), but ultimately dropped a unanimous decision.
After the loss, Costa said he thinks he can still fight at middleweight, where he recently challenge for the title in a loss to champ Israel Adesanya. But UFC president Dana White called no joy on that and said Costa’s future in the promotion has to be at 205 pounds now after the weight debacle.
Not surprisingly, other fighters at UFC Fight Night 196 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas had some opinions on Costa coming in heavy and asking for a 20-pound lenience.
Check out their reactions in the video above.
Video: UFC Fight Night 196 winners react to Paulo Costa’s fight-week weight debacle
