According to former title challenger, Paulo Costa, a host of UFC executives including Hunter Campbell and even CEO, Dana White had to force the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev’s hand into a pairing with him last year, before injury ruled the Brazilian from competing.
Costa, the current number ten ranked middleweight contender and one-time title challenger, has been sidelined since he suffered a split decision loss to former champion, Sean Strickland in the co-main event of UFC 302 back in June, marking his second consecutive loss of the year following a prior judging defeat to another ex-champion, Robert Whittaker.