Less than 24 hours after announcing UFC 294 had a new main event, the promotion has reported that the October 21 fight card also has a new co-main event.
Dana White announced it on July 20, middleweight number 6 Paulo Costa will face Khamzat Chimaev on October 21. The two men don’t like each other… Far from it. In September 2022, Chimaev and Costa had a violent exchange at the UFC Performance Institute, and almost came to blows. Since then, they have sent each other a large number of barbs on social networks. ‘Borz’ and ‘Borrachinha’ would finally be able to settle their score in the octagon.
However, early this morning, after announcing that Charles OIiveira was out of his fight against Islam Makhachev, Dana White affirmed that the meeting between Khamzat and Costa was compromised because of the elbow operation that the Brazilian underwent. However, on his X account, the former middleweight title challenger affirmed that he will not be forfeited.
“Costa’s hurt,” said White. “You know, all the rumors that are flying around, we got it done. So, the No. 4 welterweight in the world, Khamzat Chimaev, is moving up to middleweight and will face the No. 1 welterweight in the world, Kamaru Usman. So, No. 1 vs. No. 4 at middleweight, Usman vs. Chimaev. I will see you in Abu Dhabi.”
ARE YOU SHITTIN ME?!
Can’t wait to get to Abu Dhabi!!!! @ufc @USMAN84kg @KChimaev @alexvolkanovski @MAKHACHEVMMA #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/AAVPRpXeRI
— danawhite (@danawhite) October 11, 2023
Chimaev enters the fight coming off a UFC 279 submission win over Kevin Holland. Chimaev was initially booked to face Nate Diaz on that fight card, but he weighed in at 180 pounds for the contest. The UFC shuffled the card after weigh-ins to make the Chimaev vs. Holland booking at a catchweight of 180. That fight took place on September 10, 2022.
Usman, the former UFC welterweight champion, enters UFC 294 after back-to-back losses to Leon Edwards. Usman lost his 170-pound crown to Edwards via a head-kick knockout at UFC 278. He dropped the rematch at UFC 286 in March of this year via a majority decision. Before his loss, Usman had defended the title five times.
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As for Costa, MMA Fighting reports that Tamara Alves, Costa’s partner and manager, said that the former UFC middleweight title challenger is not medically cleared to compete at UFC 294 because of the “still active” infection in his right elbow.
