Shortly after manager Wallid Ismael confirmed Paulo Costa’s withdrawal from his April 17 headlining bout against Robert Whittaker, the Brazilian middleweight spoke with Sherdog.com to discuss the illness that has delayed his return to the Octagon.
Costa made it clear that his current ailment has nothing to do with COVID-19.
"I had COVID on New Year's. Once I didn’t have strong symptoms I kept training,” Costa said. “I just found out it was COVID when I decided to get tested, and by then it was longer contagious.
”The flu I have now infected eight members from the team, including sparring partners and trainers.