Middleweight#12 RankedACTIVE

Paulo Costa

15-4

1 Win Streak

Age

Height

6'1"

Weight

185 lbs

Reach

72"

Avg Fight Time

12:46

Gym

Team Borracha

UFC Record

7-4(11 bouts)

Wins By

4 KO 0 Sub 3 Dec

Losses By

1 KO 0 Sub 3 Dec

Wins by Rd

R1 1R2 3R3 3

Last 5

WLWLL

Finish Rate

80%

Bonuses

Style

Striker

Location

State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Next Fight2026-04-11

vs Azamat Murzakanov

Opponent Last Bout

W - Aleksandar RakicKO/TKOR2 3:18· Punches to Head At Distance

Fight History

WIN

vs Garreth McLellan

UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Gastelum· 2025-09-27

KO/TKO

Punch to Head In Clinch

R1 1:17

KO/TKOPunch to Head In Clinch·R1 1:17

LOSS

vs Marvin Vettori

UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori· 2025-09-27

Decision - Unanimous

R5 5:00

Decision - Unanimous·R5 5:00

WIN

vs Roman Kopylov

UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3· 2025-07-19

Decision - Unanimous

R3 5:00

Decision - Unanimous·R3 5:00

LOSS

vs Sean Strickland

UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier· 2024-06-01

Decision - Split

R5 5:00

Decision - Split·R5 5:00

LOSS

vs Robert Whittaker

UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria· 2024-02-17

Decision - Unanimous

R3 5:00

Decision - Unanimous·R3 5:00

WIN

vs Luke Rockhold

UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards· 2022-08-20

Decision - Unanimous

R3 5:00

Decision - Unanimous·R3 5:00

LOSS

vs Israel Adesanya

UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa· 2020-09-26

KO/TKO

Punch to Head At Distance

R2 3:59

KO/TKOPunch to Head At Distance·R2 3:59

WIN

vs Yoel Romero

UFC 241: Cormier vs. Miocic 2· 2019-08-17

Decision - Unanimous

R3 5:00

Decision - Unanimous·R3 5:00

WIN

vs Uriah Hall

UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier· 2018-07-07

KO/TKO

Punches to Body At Distance

R2 2:38

KO/TKOPunches to Body At Distance·R2 2:38

WIN

vs Johny Hendricks

UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre· 2017-11-04

KO/TKO

Punches to Head At Distance

R2 1:23

KO/TKOPunches to Head At Distance·R2 1:23

WIN

vs Oluwale Bamgbose

UFC 212: Aldo vs. Holloway· 2017-06-03

KO/TKO

Punches to Head On Ground

R2 1:06

KO/TKOPunches to Head On Ground·R2 1:06

Fighter Archetype

Technical Striker

Outside Fighter

Why This Archetype

This fighter displays a unique approach that transcends traditional archetypes.

Striking

6.3/min

Grappling

0.32 TD

Defense

49%

⚖️Paulo adapts strategy based on opponent — no predictable tendencies

🧬Competent across all ranges — 59% striking and 50% TD accuracy

📊Balanced approach can be difficult to game-plan against

Technique DNA

Striking Foundation

19 rounds of fight film analyzed

🎯

Signature Technique

Jabs

Core of offensive identity

Dominant Level

84%

Of striking volume

Mastery Progress

Primary Arsenal

High Importance

Head Kicks

74%of arsenal

0%100%

Medium Importance

Leg Kicks

68%of arsenal

0%100%

Supporting Techniques

⭐Other

Damage Events

53%

Counters

26%

⭐Other

Knees

42%

Common Combinations

Distance → Clinch

3× detected

Clinch → Takedown

3× detected

Patterns detected from round-by-round fight data

Striking Pattern Analysis

◆Signature technique: Heavy reliance on Jabs (84%). Opponents must prepare specifically for this threat.
▲Technical diversity: Multiple techniques used at similar rates - adapts based on situations.
●Comprehensive striker: Uses head strikes, leg kicks, and varied attacks across distance.
■Two-pillar system: Top 2 techniques account for majority (158%) of offensive output.
◇Focused arsenal: Top 5 techniques comprise 321% of offense - limited but refined.
▶Mixed martial artist: Uses both takedown techniques and submissions in the striking phase.
★Adaptive tempo: Switches between pressure and counter-fighting mid-round.

Finish Techniques

Striking Finishes

100% of career finishes

Submission Finishes

0% of career finishes

⚡ Knockout Arsenal (4 techniques)

Punch to Head In Clinch

25% of KOs

Punches to Body At Distance

25% of KOs

Punches to Head At Distance

25% of KOs

Punches to Head On Ground

25% of KOs

Finish Pattern Analysis

⚡⚡ Striking finisher: 100% of career finishes via knockout/TKO. Devastating striking power and end-game precision.
🎯💥 KO arsenal: Punch to Head In Clinch leads with 1 finishes. Multiple KO paths available.

Fighter Skills Radar

Key Insights

🥊

Striking specialist: Dominates with devastating volume and accuracy. Avoids ground exchanges.

💪

Peak strengths: Strikes/Min (6.3) and Strike Acc% (59%).

⚠️

Vulnerability: Sub/15min is below average (0/100). Opponents exploit this.

🔥

Finisher: 80% of wins end in finish (11 KO + 1 subs).

🚫

Anti-wrestler: 80% TD defense. Keeps fights standing.

⏱️

Fast starter: Peaks early in fights (83% in R3). Front-loads pressure.

Striking Profile

Striking Accuracy

59%

Above Avg

0%100%

Striking Defense

49%

Average

0%100%

Range Breakdown

Distance

57% acc89%

Clinch

88% acc5%

Ground

72% acc6%

Striking Differential+0.06/min

6.26 landed/min6.20 absorbed/min

6.26

Landed/Min

6.20

Absorbed/Min

0.53

KD Avg

1st Rd Finishes

Sig. Strikes Landed879

Sig. Strikes Attempted1496

Key Insights

Paulo is a distance-first striker, with 89% of output at range.

Effective body attack (41%).

Utilizes an effective jab.

Distance-dominant: 89% of output at range with 57% accuracy.

Elite chin: exceptional durability under fire.

Elite KD exchange: deals 5.0x more knockdowns than absorbed.

Grappling Profile

TD Accuracy

50%

Average

0%100%

TD Defense

80%

Elite

0%100%

TD Success Rate

50%(est)

Landed

Defended

Total

Note: Takedowns landed estimated from accuracy percentage

0.32

TD / 15min

0.00

Sub / 15min

TD Landed

TD Attempted

Extended Grappling

Clinch Takedowns

Landed

Attempted

50%

Accuracy

Key Insights

Rarely initiates takedowns (0.32/15min).

Elite TD defense (80%).

Submission timing: "Opportunistic" — consistent threat.

Offensive vs Defensive Balance

Damage Exchange

Offensive dominance vs damage absorbed per fight

Dealt

879

1.18

Ratio

Absorbed

745

Chin Rating

Elite

KD Exchange

5/1

KD Recovery

Pace & Momentum

Fight pacing and round-over-round performance trends

Engagement Score

31.5

Moderate

Strikes/Min

6.0

Standing %

95%

R3 vs R1 Output

83%

Slight Fade

Key Insights

🥊 Elite chin - rarely compromised by strikes.

🎯 Effective knockdown technician - deals significantly more than absorbs.

⚙️ High engagement score (31.5) - maintains relentless pace.

Round-by-Round Profile

Career average across 11 fights

R1 Control

0:18

R2 Control

0:03

R3 Control

0:28

R1 to Final

-10%

In-Fight Adaptation

Detected across career, comparing R1 vs R3+ patterns

Adapts targeting and range based on opponent and fatigue.

Target Selection Evolution

Head

+4.0pp

Body

-5.2pp

Leg

+1.1pp

Range Preference Evolution

Ground Shift

-6.2pp

Round Patterns

⬆️ Improves with fight duration – strong finishing power

💪 Peak performance in final round

🔄 Low control time – movement-focused fighter

Championship Rounds

Based on 2 five-round fights

Rounds 1-3 Avg

27.5

sig strikes / round

Rounds 4-5 Avg

34.0

sig strikes / round

Output Change

124%

R4-5 vs R1-3

Championship Ready

Competitive Profile

Strength of Schedule

Opponent quality and career progression

Avg Opponent ELO

3065

Championship

Career-wide opponent strength

Elite Wins (ELO 3000+)

/ 3

0% Win Rate

Conclusions Summary

Fighter characteristics, strengths, patterns, and competitive insights