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Dana White fires back at Paulo Costa over UFC fight dispute

Published

3 weeks ago

on

Dana White fires back at Paulo Costa over UFC fight dispute
Dana
White has addressed Paulo
Costa's frustration with the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Costa recently slammed UFC exec Hunter Campbell after he was
seemingly offered a short-notice five-round bout for the final
fight of his current contract. While the former title challenger is
open to accepting a five-rounder, he wants to be compensated
accordingly and have ample time to prepare for a 25-minute bout.
The Brazilian has even repeatedly requested his release from the
promotion.

Paulo Costa says he wants his final UFC fight as Dana White
points to offers he turned down

When asked about Costa's comments following
Week 7 of
Dana White's Contender Series, White acknowledged the fighter's
frustration but revealed that “Borrachinha†has turned down several
fights.

“Oh, yeah. [Paulo is] frustrated, yeah,†White said. “He’s been
offered fights and turned them down. We don’t just say, ‘f*ck Paulo
Costa,’ and, ‘you’re not going to get a fight,’ and ‘no, we’re not
going to pay you,’ and ‘no, we’re not going to do this.’ Guys get
offered three fights a year regularly, even guys who aren’t
fighting. Tom
Aspinall’s eyes are messed up. He’s getting offered fights. You
think Paulo Costa isn’t getting offered fights?â€

Costa previously called for an interim title fight amidst light
heavyweight champ Carlos
Ulberg's rehabilitation from injury, but later claimed the UFC
wasn't interested. Most recently, he was called out by former champ
Magomed
Ankalaev.


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MMA

Alex Pereira backs Paulo Costa to beat Magomed Ankalaev with pressure

Published

12 hours ago

on

October 14, 2026

By

Alex Pereira backs Paulo Costa to beat Magomed Ankalaev with pressure
Alex
Pereira believes aggression could be decisive in a potential
fight between Paulo Costa
and Magomed
Ankalaev.

With
Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion
Carlos
Ulberg sidelined by injury, Costa and Ankalaev are seeking a
title opportunity. Pereira believes his fellow Brazilian can defeat
Ankalaev by applying pressure.

Alex Pereira says Paulo Costa must impose his pace to defeat
Magomed Ankalaev

“Poatan†said Costa must impose his pace to beat Ankalaev. He
expects a more evenly matched contest if Costa hesitates.

“I think ‘Borrachinha' [wins],†Pereira told Laerte Viana. “He's
more aggressive. I think ‘Borrachinha' would do better. If he stays
there like will he or won't he [hesitant], then it will be a fairly
even fight. You don't know who takes it. But if he imposes his
game, his rhythm, I think he takes it.â€

Costa (16-4) and Ankalaev (21-2-1, 1 NC) have exchanged criticism
on social media, with Ankalaev accusing the Brazilian of declining
multiple offers to fight him. Costa has also publicly disputed the
UFC's proposed terms for his next bout, saying he wants to complete
the one fight remaining on his contract.

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MMA

Dana White dismisses Alex Pereira’s claims against Daniel Cormier: ‘I don’t tell anybody what to say’

Published

12 hours ago

on

October 14, 2026

By

Dana White dismisses Alex Pereira’s claims against Daniel Cormier: ‘I don’t tell anybody what to say’

Dana White puts no stock in Alex Pereira's complaints against Daniel Cormier.

“Of course that's not true,†White said. “These guys are the most paranoid people on the planet. Like we're telling DC — I've never told DC to do anything, ever. It doesn't work like that. We don't operate like that.â€

Pereira's complaint seems primarily to stem from his personal animosity with Gane. “Poatan†lost his fight with Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC White House, and has since lobbied for a rematch, citing illegal blows from Gane as the reason for his loss. Pereira has had some issues with the UFC before, but this one seems to run a bit deeper for the former two-division champion. It also comes at the same time as UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has been airing his grievances about the promotion. But for White, this is simply a normal part of fight promotion.

“I don't know. We have over 700 guys on contract, and we've talked about two of them being sideways right now,†White said. “This is normal when you're in this business. As you guys know — first of all, I've never told Rogan or DC or any of these guys to say anything about anybody. And one of the things, as a longtime fan of the fight business, I actually can't stand the commentators saying negative things about fighters or anything like that.

“But I don't tell anybody what to say. I don't tell the fighters what to say, I don't tell the commentators what to say. This thing all just plays out organically in the way that the fights are called, and whatever they say when they walk out here and they interview with you guys tonight. We don't police any of that stuff. If we did, Sean Strickland would've been gone three f*cking years ago, and we wouldn't even be having this conversation.â€

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MMA

Michael ‘Venom’ Page says 3 Misfits fights will pay more than 6 in UFC

Published

1 day ago

on

October 13, 2026

By

Michael ‘Venom’ Page says 3 Misfits fights will pay more than 6 in UFC
Michael
“Venom” Page says his new deal will pay him more than he earned
during his
Ultimate Fighting Championship tenure.

Page had promised an exciting performance against Nursulton
Ruziboev in September, the final bout of his UFC contract. He
won by unanimous decision, but the promotion opted not to re-sign
him. The Englishman now says his move to Misfits Boxing will bring
a substantial increase in earnings.

Michael Page compares three-fight Misfits contract with
earnings from six UFC appearances

Page produced highlight-reel knockouts in Bellator,
but all six of his UFC appearances went the distance. He finished
5-1 in the promotion, with his only loss coming against Ian
Garry.

Page (26-3) said he received offers from several promotions before
signing with Misfits. He expects to earn more from the three-fight
agreement than he did from his six UFC bouts, describing his new
compensation as roughly double what he previously earned. He also
said Misfits intends to launch an MMA show with him as a leading
figure.

“Misfits came with an absolutely crazy deal, which means I’ve
continued to grow and get better financially,†Page told Ariel
Helwani. “They have vision for the future. They're trying to get an
MMA show going, with me kind of lead that way, be the face of that…
I’ve left the UFC and I’m making more money. Like two times more,
maybe just over, and in a shorter period. In a three-fight deal,
I’ll make more than I have my whole UFC contract.â€

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