Paulo Costa says there’s nothing manufactured about his rivalry with Khamzat Chimaev entering UFC 294.
Costa (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is set to return to the octagon and officially welcome Chimaev (12-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) to the top of the middleweight division when they meet in a key matchup on the Oct. 21 fight card, which takes place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
The matchup has been brewing for nearly a year, after the pair had a run-in at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas prior to Chimaev’s UFC 279 victory over Kevin Holland.