Paulo Costa sees a problem in the UFC light heavyweight division, and he believes he can be part of the solution. With champion Carlos Ulberg sidelined after ACL surgery, Costa is pushing for an interim title fight instead of letting the division wait. His timing could not be more important. Costa has one UFC fight left on his contract, giving his latest demand added weight. If the promotion does not offer the opportunity he wants, the former middleweight title challenger could soon face a major decision about his future.
Paulo Costa sees the interim title as a chance to change his future and help the division
Costa’s push comes after a major setback for the light heavyweight division.Ulberg captured the UFC light heavyweight championship by stopping Jiri Prochazka at UFC 327 in April. However, his title reign was quickly interrupted by an ACL injury suffered during the fight. He later underwent surgery, creating uncertainty around when he can return.Costa believes the division should continue moving while the champion recovers.His argument is based partly on how the UFC handled another championship situation. After women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko suffered an injury, she relinquished her belt. Natalia Silva and Wang Cong were then booked to fight for the vacant title on Oct. 3.Costa believes the light heavyweight division deserves a similar solution if Ulberg is expected to remain out for an extended period.“UFC stripped Valentina out From her Belt due injury. Also Carlos Ulberg is injured and MAYBE fight second semester 2027 .Put the LHW interim belt in line and I WILL COME TO SAVE THE LHW DIVISION !UFC REFUSED TO PUT LHW interim belt in line . Why? I don’t know.”For Costa, an interim championship would do more than give him another high-profile fight. It would give contenders something meaningful to compete for while the champion is unavailable.That could also prevent the division from losing momentum.Costa has already started building a new chapter at 205 pounds. After a difficult period at middleweight, he returned from a year away and defeated Roman Kopylov. He followed that performance with a head-kick knockout of previously unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov in his light heavyweight debut.That victory gave Costa a strong reason to believe he belongs in the title conversation.
Paulo Costa’s contract situation could make his next fight a career-changing decision
The title discussion becomes even more important because Costa says he has just one UFC fight remaining.That leaves the promotion with a decision to make.Costa could use his final fight to chase an interim championship and potentially put himself in position for a major title opportunity. But if the UFC does not create that path, he says he is prepared to complete his contract without waiting for the belt.“I have only one fight to become free agent . If there no belt in line I gonna fight someone else for 3 rds and get out of the ufc contract.”That is a significant statement from a fighter who has already experienced the pressure of competing near the top of the UFC.Costa challenged Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title at UFC 253, but his career later entered a difficult stretch. He suffered several defeats and stepped away from competition before beginning his comeback.His recent performances have changed the conversation around him.Moving to light heavyweight could give Costa a fresh opportunity, but his window may not remain open indefinitely. If the UFC chooses a different direction, he could finish his contract and test the free-agent market.There is also another name that could eventually add more intrigue to the division. Khamzat Chimaev has previously shown interest in moving up to light heavyweight, although his immediate championship goals remain connected to middleweight.For now, Costa is making his position clear. He believes the UFC has a chance to keep the light heavyweight division active instead of allowing contenders to wait for Ulberg’s return.Whether the promotion changes its plans remains uncertain. But with Costa’s contract nearing its end, his latest push could become more than a public complaint. It could be the moment that determines where his UFC career goes next.