Paulo Costa ignited a feud with Khamzat Chimaev at the UFC 318 media day, accusing him of sending disrespectful messages to his girlfriend via Instagram. Costa, preparing to face Roman Kopylov, expressed his anger and desire to settle the score in the octagon.

Just like UFC 318 headliner Dustin Poirier, Costa has not fought since UFC 302 last June. As an aside, Kevin Holland was also on that UFC 302 card and faces Daniel Rodriguez on the UFC 318 main card in what will be Holland’s fifth appearance since UFC 302.

Israel Adesanya believes Paulo Costa’s mindset is the deciding factor in how he performs at UFC 318. Costa is set to make his first appearance of 2025 when he takes part in the co-main event of UFC 318 in New Orleans on Saturday.

Dustin Poirier competes for the final time at UFC 318, and while the fan favorite is hanging up his gloves there’s a few up-and-comers fighting on the prelims.

Costa (14-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) and Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) were booked to fight at UFC 294 in October 2023, but Costa wound up withdrawing due to injury. Their rivalry dates back to a heated run-in at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas prior to Chimaev's UFC 279 win over Kevin Holland in September 2022.

Paulo Costa hasn’t forgotten his would-be rivalry with Khamzat Chimaev. With the two in the same weight class, the path was clear for a grudge match and introduction to the top-tier of Middleweight talent.

The Octagon is in New Orleans for local and global favorite Dustin Poirier’s farewell. After 18 years as an active MMA fighter, the gloves will be hung up after Poirier fights Max Holloway at UFC 318 for the symbolic BMF title.

Saturday's UFC 318 card will be a tear-jerker for Dustin Poirier fans. The beloved lightweight legend is set to make his final walk to the Octagon in the card's main event, and he'll do so in front of legions of dedicated fans on home turf in New Orleans.

Holloway vs Poirier 3 start time, fight card, TV channel, live stream and latest odds - ‘The Diamond’ bids farewell to the octagon with trilogy fight at home in Louisiana

“‘Mr. Inconsistent’, Paulo Costa, ‘Borrachinha’, who has kind of turned into a bit of a meme,” the British MMA legend said during his UFC 318 prediction video. “He’s a very funny guy to follow on social media. Some of the stuff that he posts is absolutely hilarious, but what’s not so funny are the performances inside of the Octagon.