Paulo Costa has lifted the lid on his pay row with the UFC and defined why his large match-up with Robert Whittaker was scrapped.
He was attributable to tackle the Australian in Perth at UFC 284 subsequent 12 months however the UFC need him to decide to a brand new six-fight deal first.
Costa is refusing, asking as an alternative for one elevated payout for the final combat of his current contract. His present deal is £57,000 to indicate, and an extra £57,000 to win.
Paulo Costa, pictured right here in opposition to Joel Romero again in 2019, is but to agree a brand new deal
The Brazilian defined on the MMA Hour: ‘I say I need new phrases to combat [Whittaker]. I can’t [fight] for a similar cash. It is a predominant occasion in Australia. The individuals from Australia can be there. It is an ideal combat. So [$70,000] just isn’t sufficient for that. Simply go a bit of bit increased, and so they mentioned no.
‘They mentioned, [UFC President] Dana White’s lawyer, [UFC CBO] Hunter Campbell, mentioned ‘We have to make a brand new six-fight deal.’ I mentioned, ‘No, I am not going to speak about six fights extra.
‘I discuss that one.’ That is smart. Why you carry six fights in? I am speaking about that one, to combat Whittaker, not six extra. It does not make sense to me.
‘I am not searching for six extra fights, not on the numbers that he despatched me. I do not assume this is smart.
‘I am speaking about one combat particularly, not six. I did this up to now, 5 years in the past, 2017, and I am paying for this error even now, as a result of I am so [outdated].’
Costa’s scheduled combat in opposition to Robert Whittaker (proper) has been cancelled
Dana White and Co won’t need to lose Costa to free company subsequent 12 months
The UFC introduced the combat with Whittaker in a bid to stress him to relent along with his calls for, says the No 6-ranked middleweight.
‘I simply got here in and mentioned the reality,’ Costa mentioned. ‘It is a pretend. It is not occurring,’ he went on.
‘I believe they simply truly provide very low numbers for Brazilians,’ he mentioned. ‘Perhaps they assume, “Ah, these motherf****** in Brazil, they reside within the jungle, they do not want actual cash as a result of the foreign money’s like 5 instances lower than {dollars}, so let’s pay bulls***”.
‘In some unspecified time in the future, I ought to say cease, I can’t try this,’ he mentioned. ‘However I did not, as a result of we’re Brazilians — we simply need to combat. We do not care an excessive amount of. They are saying, “OK, you combat that method, let’s go. You combat the No. 5 [ranked fighter],” [and we’ll say,] “Let’s go, I am OK with that, for a similar cash.”
‘We’re doing that for a very long time, nevertheless it’s does not assist the enterprise for the athletes. That is horrible for the enterprise on the fighter’s facet. So you can not simply say sure.
Costa says the UFC will not be prepared to just accept his calls for for elevated pay
‘Any individual mentioned, “If you’re good at one thing, do not do it without cost — or for s*** cash.” I did loads up to now, and it is sufficient.’
Costa believes he can be allowed to go away the UFC upon the expiry of his contract subsequent March even when he hasn’t fought the ultimate combat of his deal.
Even when the UFC now agree phrases with Costa, February 12 in Australia will come too quickly now, not permitting him a full camp.
So there seems to be a race in opposition to time for the organisation to both settle for his calls for or lose the favored striker to free company.
