Coach: Paulo Costa can compete with Top 5 at light heavyweight
Two-time “Coach of the Year” honoree Rafael Cordeiro was impressed by Paulo Costa´s performance at UFC 327.
Paulo Costa was impressive in his move up to light heavyweight. | Getty/UFC Two-time “Coach of the Year” honoree Rafael Cordeiro was impressed by Paulo Costa ´s performance at UFC 327 . According to Kings MMA founder, Costa should stay in the light heavyweight division following his third-round stoppage of the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov this past Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
“‘Borrachinha’ is a guy that, love him or hate him, you will like to see his fights. And give me three names of the division that sell fights like him,” Cordeiro told Sherdog. com.
Based on his performance last Saturday, where he knocked out Murzakanov with a head kick in the third round, the former Chute Boxer believes that Costa would also beat Jiri Prochazka if he was fighting for the interim title. Prochazka suffered a first-round knockout loss to Carlos Ulberg in clash for the vacant light heavyweight strap at UFC 327. However, Ulberg could be sidelined for quite some time after suffering an apparent knee injury in the bout.
“I see him [being competitive] with any of those Top 5 of the division. To tell you the truth, considering that Ulberg will be out for a long time due to his knee, if UFC makes a interim title between ‘Borrachinha ‘and Jiri, I believe Costa would knock him out. ” The Brazilian coach also criticized Prochazka’s attitude against Ulberg.