‘Gourmet Chenchen Doesn’t Want That Smoke’

Costa has been asking the UFC to re-book a canceled fight against Chimaev for March. Unfortunately, he says Chimaev isn’t interested.

Paulo Costa continues to sit on the sidelines without a fight after a horrific staph infection took him out of an October scrap with Khamzat Chimaev in Abu Dhabi.

“Borrachinha” had teased the possibility of a booking at UFC 297 in Toronto, but nothing came of it. Now he’s campaigning to get on the March 2nd Saudi Arabia card, preferably against his heated rival Chimaev.

“I have been persistently telling the UFC to reschedule this fight for UFC Saudi Arabia, I can’t see a best main event of 5 rounds for it right now cause it’s make sense in Middle East,” Costa wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I would love beat his ass over there. But it’s looks like Gourmet Chenchen doesn’t want that smoke.”

With Chimaev currently unable to travel to the United States, we would be shocked if he didn’t compete at the first UFC event in Saudi Arabia. The big wild card is a hand tendon injury which may not heal up in time. It’s also unclear if the UFC is interested in re-booking Chimaev vs. Costa even if “Borz” is healthy. But fortunately, the Brazilian has a back-up opponent in mind.

“Other guys in list is Rob [Whittaker],” Costa tweeted. “If he is interested in this I proposal they should match up it sooner than later, cause I want to be active in [2024].”

Costa hasn’t fought since an August 2022 decision win over Luke Rockhold. For a minute it looked like the popular social media personality would leave the UFC for free agency after that fight, but a deal was finally struck in March reportedly making Paulo the highest paid Brazilian in the promotion.

Well, he will be when he finally steps into the cage.