Sean Strickland (28-6) is no stranger to running his mouth. “Tarzan” makes a living off targeting fighters, including Isreal Adensanya. However, he backs up his trash talk with big-time wins, defeating fighters like Adensanya for prestigious titles.
But he has a new target in his eyes, going after Paulo Costa.
Is costa out? pic.twitter.com/ImSS63WcGj
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) May 15, 2024
Of course, this is for their upcoming fight at UFC 302, where the two will be the co-main event. However, there’s one small problem, at least, according to Strickland: Costa allegedly hasn’t signed the contract yet. That has led to the Anaheim native calling his opponent a “weak, f****** man.*
So is the fight happening or not? What’s happening with Costa that’s causing the issue (if anything)? Here’s why fans should tune in to the fight (if it happens).
Paulo Costa Responds To Sean Strickland
Paulo Costa responded to the “unsigned contract” allegations by taking to Twitter to announce he signed on the dotted line. The middleweight bout will be the first fight for Sean Strickland since dropping the UFC Middleweight Championship to Dricus de Plessis at UFC 297. The itch to fight again must be getting to Strickland’s head.
People within the UFC also acknowledged the fight still being on board. That makes it seem like “Tarzan” is going ape over nothing, with the middleweight back to his usual trash talk. However, this also sets up the fight to become electric, with both fighters showing immense disdain for one another.
Why This Fight Could Steal UFC 302
For one, the Sean Strickland comments will be a major talking point for the card. With the California native calling out the Brazilian MMA fighter, it sets the table for two fighters to hash out their differences in the octagon. Fans will appreciate the two sides going after each other, especially since it raises the intensity.
UFC 302 already features a main event with two trash-talking sides: Dustin Poirier and Islam Makhachev. With another fight featuring two trash talkers, it makes for even more drama, which gets people to tune in. For Dana White, that equals dollar signs.
Plus, both fighters are proven in the industry, with Strickland’s pedigree well-known. He’s a former UFC Middleweight Champion, after all. But Costa has some chops to his name, with a 14-3 record. That includes victories over Luke Rockhold, Johny Hendricks, and Yoel Romero. However, he’ll have a bigger test against Strickland, who’s crazy enough to pull off the victory.
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Jacob Walters is a boxing/MMA writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @IceColdWJacob
