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Paulo Costa Claims Khamzat Chimaev Rejected UFC Saudi Arabia Clash: ‘Gourmet chenchen doesn’t want that smoke’

Paulo Costa wants to see his previously scheduled fight with Khamzat Chimaev moved to next year’s UFC Saudi Arabia card.

It’s been 16 months since fight fans have seen ‘The Eraser’ back in the Octagon following a bizarre, yet decisive unanimous decision win over Luke Rockhold at UFC 278. After a lengthy contract negotiation that saw him re-sign with the promotion on a four-fight deal, the one-time title challenger looked to jump right back into the mix at middleweight.

Costa was scheduled to square off with undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, but ‘Borrachinha’ was forced to withdraw from the bout due to an infection in his elbow that required multiple surgeries.