WILMINGTON, Mass. – If you were surprised by the news, Randy Costa wasn’t. The writing was on the wall. His UFC tenure is over, at least for now.
“Dude, it was no secret,” Costa told MMA Junkie after he commentated Combat FC 2 at Shriners Auditorium. “It was going to happen. I’m on a three-fight skid.”
Costa, 28, was recently released from the UFC after a quick submission loss Oct. 1 to Guido Cannetti. For the first time in three-and-a-half years, Costa (6-4) is once again a free agent. He exits the UFC with a 2-4 promotional record with knockout wins over Journey Newson and Boston Salmon.
For Costa, the biggest struggle he had wasn’t his skills or technique. It was his situational experience and in-cage comfort. He only spent 2 minutes and 50 seconds in pro competition before the UFC, which included nearly zero strikes absorbed.
“I was probably warranted to be cut after the last fight, after I lost to Tony (Kelley), but they gave me another opportunity, and I let it slip through,” Costa said. “It is what it is, man. It’s part of the game. I’m young in the sport. I was 4-0 when I got in the UFC. My first time getting punched in the face was my UFC debut. I feel like technically I’m there, and my talent level is there. I just need to get more experience and settle into fights a little bit more so I can really just showcase what I’m about.”
Costa only had four professional fights when he joined the UFC in 2019. He was forced to mature on the fly. That included a move to South Florida to train at Kill Cliff FC (formerly Sanford MMA).
Sacrifices were made, and he gave it his best effort, but Costa thinks a regroup will prove beneficial. Positivity in the wake of adversity isn’t new for Costa. He’s handling the release in stride and vows to return to the UFC in the next 18 months.
“What’s it going to do for me to feel bad for myself and wallow in self-pity?” Costa said. “It’s not going to do anything at all. I’d like to think that I’m trying to be a positive role model and try to inspire the kids from the town that I’m from in Taunton. It is what it is, man. I’m not the first person who’s failed at something. I tried. It is what it is. I’m not going to quit. I’m going to keep going. We’re going to turn this little sh*tty phase of my life into something positive. I know I’m going to be back on top. I’m going to land on my feet. It’s a small, little bump in the road. It’s not over.”
So it’s back to the New England regional scene, which includes a healthy serving of promotions like CES MMA, Combat FC, Calvin Kattar’s Combat Zone, and Cage Titans, the organization Costa began in.
The plan is to squeeze one fight in by the end of the year, then three or four more in 2023. Costa was also hired by promoter Joe Cavallaro for commentary responsibilities. He’s called the first two events for UFC Fight Pass promotion Combat FC, which is scheduled to hold its next card Feb. 10.
“I think now that I’m a free agent, I can go out there and stay active a little bit more and show the UFC like, ‘Hey, this wasn’t a fluke. I earn that 4-0 shot. I’m going to earn it again. It’s a small bump in the road, man,” Costa said. “It is what it is. … I know I’m going to be back. I know I’m going to f*cking be back, bro. More frozen f*cking pizza on the way. Sending it, baby.”
