Paulo Costa secured one of the standout wins at UFC 327, defeating previously unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov in Miami on Saturday night.
The Brazilian, a known fan of Donald Trump, also shared a brief interaction with the US president following his victory inside the Kaseya Center.
That moment quickly gained further attention after Trump took to social media to publicly address the fighter and his performance.
Donald Trump praises Paulo Costa and predicts title success after UFC 327
Writing on Truth Social, Trump congratulated Costa and made a strong statement about his future in the sport.
“Congratulations to Paulo Costa on a great UFC fight last night in Miami. He will absolutely be a future Champion. It was great talking to him outside the ring after his big victory last night in Miami!” the 79-year-old president said.
Costa earned the praise after delivering a decisive finish, knocking Murzakanov out with a head kick to secure a major statement win over an opponent who lost for the first time after 16 fights.
The performance reinforced his standing as a dangerous contender, with Trump’s comments adding further spotlight to his progression.
Paulo Costa eyes title opportunity amid shifting divisional picture
Following the victory, Costa made it clear he wants to move straight into a title fight.
Despite competing at light heavyweight, he called out middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, with whom he has a long-standing rivalry.
At the same time, uncertainty around Carlos Ulberg’s knee injury could create an opening for Costa to enter a light heavyweight interim title bout, as he defeated the division’s number six.
