Paulo Costa no longer interested in Khamzat Chimaev: 'I think he's done'

Paulo Costa has moved on from the idea of fighting Khamzat Chimaev.

Costa (16-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) has long been campaigning to fight Chimaev (15-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC), who's fresh off a middleweight title loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328 earlier this month.

Costa and Chimaev were scheduled to fight at UFC 294 in October 2023, but Costa withdrew due to injury. Costa is riding some momentum after back-to-back wins over Roman Kopylov and Azamat Murzakanov, but doesn't see Chimaev coming back anytime soon.

"I know many of you guys want to have me facing 'Gourmet Chen Chen Chimaev' a.k.a. 'Gourmet Chen Chen' next," Costa said in an Instagram video. "I don't think this is going to happen. Why? Because he's broke. I think he's done. I don't think he will be back. And even if he can regrow and be back, this will not be this year.

"So, let's move on. I have a bunch of fights, great fights, great matches to do. I want to fight as soon as possible. I think August is an amazing date, even July. So, let's move on. I can fight middleweight, light heavyweight, even heavyweight, OK? We have a great host and let's move."

Former middleweight title challenger Costa has three big names he's eyeing instead.

"I'm excited to see you guys again as soon as possible and so stop talking about 'Gourmet Chen Chen,' OK?" Costa continued. "You know I wish to do that fight before he lost, but mental strength is not one of his qualities so, he has a lot of problems to solve before be back. So that's it, let's move the page and let's move on. I would bring three names for you guys: (Josh) Hokit, heavyweight. (Sean) Strickland, middleweight, and Mike Perry."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC's Paulo Costa turning the page on Khamzat Chimaev rivalry