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Paulo Costa was pulled from a bout against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 due to a staph infection, but he still managed to get a fight at the event.
The UFC star said that he was jumped by some unruly fans and that is what led to the altercation at UFC 294.
“I don’t know exactly what these guys were doing over there, but when I get in the arena, I was in the hallway taking pictures with the fans, [people] asked for a photo and selfies,” Costa said on The MMA Hour. “Almost, in the corner, to go to my seat, a guy called me, and when I came to him, he [shot the bird] in my face. So I looked to him and the security is pushing me, like, ‘Come on, Paulo. The next fight is coming. We need to clear the hallway for the next match.’ But I mocked his face. I mocked his face because I was pissed off. My will is to slap him in the face directly, but I couldn’t, so I mocked his face.
“I used the same hallway to go to the restroom and come back to my seat. So I went to the restroom and then came back to look for him. I saw him but he wasn’t in the first row anymore, he was in the third row, so it made me more furious because he came to the first row just to shove his finger in my face. So disrespectful. [Laughs.] So I was like, I need to discipline this guy before I go back to watch the fights, because my mind will stay on this guy. This guy is so audacious.
“So I come back and I saw him in the third row and I say, ‘Brother, please, come here. I want to do something to you!’ He looked at me [with wide eyes] and then he starts to come. But there are a couple of them, like a Chechen gang I think. Maybe three or four, I don’t know. When he started to come down to me, somebody held him back, ‘Don’t go.’ Then I grabbed him, and when I grabbed him, another guy tried punching me. The security pulled me out and then the same guy that I was trying to drag out, he jumped at me! Right in front of me. I don’t know what he had in mind, but it was not a good idea for him, because once he jumped, he landed in security and his head was right in front of me. So even with my brand new arm, I could land. [Laughs.] That’s it. More guys tried to jump me, but I don’t know these guys and I don’t care.”
Costa is still dealing with a staph infection and he hasn’t competed since defeating former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 278 in August of 2022.
While a date for his return hasn’t been set yet, Costa says he should know more once his bandage is removed later this week.
“It’s getting better. Much better,” Costa said. “I saw doctors today. The progress is good. I’m happy and proud of this because I’ve already tested my hand Saturday in the arena. They are so proud of the service because I punched [someone]. They said, ‘Paulo, you did pretty well. You are not allowed to do any exercise except beat some Chechen heads if you see them in front of you.’ But besides this, 100 percent good. I think we’re going to remove [the bandage] Thursday, so then I’ll be free.”
