Overview
- Costa posted the ultimatum on social media that gave UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell three choices: book his final contracted fight as a three-round bout, upgrade it to five rounds with higher pay, or release him from his deal.
- Costa says his contract specifies a three-round purse for his last fight and that he will not accept a five-round main-event assignment for three-round pay.
- He formally hired promoter Eddie Hearn as his manager and has told the UFC he previously asked for release several times, but the promotion has not publicly answered his latest terms.
- Former light heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev publicly volunteered to fight Costa, which highlights immediate interest inside the division if the UFC agrees to book the bout.
- Costa has been inactive since his April knockout of Azamat Murzakanov and the standoff could delay his next fight, prompt a settlement or clear path to other platforms that have recently courted top fighters.