A fan tried to attack Paul Costa at UFC 294 | Video

Middleweight contender Paulo Costa was originally scheduled to fight the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 294 co-main event on Saturday but was forced out of the match after having surgery weeks before the event.  

Despite being removed from the fight card, Costa was in attendance for Saturday’s pay-per-view event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.  During the fights, Costa was attacked by a fan.  A fan leaped over a barricade and tried to assault Costa.  Costa defended himself using the arm that he had surgery on due to staph infection.  

Following the attack, Costa posted a video of the incident to social media.  

“I told you guys I could fight tonight,” he jokingly said on Twitter.    

“Don’t mess with me lil chenchen I send you back home with smack straight in ur big forehead.  my right arm is working already,” he wrote accompanied with the video.  

I told you guys I could fight tonight 😅🤜🔥🧃

— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) October 21, 2023

Don’t mess with me lil chenchen I send you back home with smack straight in ur big forehead 😂😂 my right arm is working already 🔥🧃🤜🔪 pic.twitter.com/3mN1ATrWsw

— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) October 21, 2023

Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman stepped up and accepted the fight with Chimaev on 12 days notice.  Usman landed more strikes than Chimaev but Chimaev’s grappling was enough to win the match.  The three-round bout went the distance with Chimaev defeating Usman via majority decision.  

It was Usman’s middleweight debut and his third loss in a row.  Chimaev extended his undefeated record to 13-0.