Henry Cejudo questions whether Paulo Costa will fight at UFC 298

A middleweight clash between former champion Robert Whittaker and sixth-ranked Paulo Costa serves as the UFC 298 co-main event on Feb. 17 in Anaheim, California.  The matchup has monumental implications in the division, but former two-division champion Henry Cejudo questioned whether the fight will actually happen.  

Costa has pulled out of five fights in the last four years.  He last fought at UFC 278 in August 2022 defeating former titleholder Luke Rockhold.  

“I’m still surprised Paulo is (ranked) number six.  I mean, this dude fights once every two years,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel.

Costa has had a long history of pulling out of fights.  He was scheduled to face Uriah Hall at UFC Fight Night 128 in April 2018 but withdrew due to an arm injury.  He was slated to take on Yoel Romero at UFC 230 in November 2028 but was removed from the fight card for undisclosed reasons.  

He was suspended for six months in 2018 for for receiving prohibited intravenous injections after the weigh-ins for two fights.  

In April 2021, Costa and matched up against Whittaker at UFC on ESPN 22 but backed out of the fight due to illness.  In August 2021, he was slated to face Jared Cannonier at UFC on ESPN 28 but pulled out due to unknown reasons.  He later claimed the bout agreement was never signed.  

He was again matched up against Whittaker at UFC 284 but again said the bout agreement was never signed.  A bout between Costa and Khamzat Chimaev was scheduled for UFC 294 but Costa withdrew due to injury. 

Related: Alexander Volkanovski talks struggles with alcohol ahead of recent Islam Makhachev loss

On Feb. 17, he’s expected to finally face Whittaker in the UFC 298 co-main event.  Whether he’ll show up is anyone’s guess.  

“Sometimes you don’t know if he’s going to show up or not,” said Cejudo.  “I don’t even know if he’s going to show up, honestly, at UFC 298.  I really don’t.

“I’m surprised at the UFC.  I thought we (Cejudo vs. Merab Dvalishvili), but I’m surprise they made them the co-main event because with Paul you just don’t know.  Staph, something.  Of course things always happen but it’s just too much.”