Magomed Ankalaev fight snub: Paulo Costa rejects UFC replacement bout

Magomed Ankalaev’s name surfaced again in UFC headlines on 18 June when Paulo Costa rejected a late replacement fight offer against the Russian light heavyweight.

Paulo Costa, the Brazilian welterweight, publicly criticized the UFC on Monday after the promotion asked him to step in for an injured opponent against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Paris. Costa called the offer “disrespectful” and said he turned it down because the matchup lacked proper preparation time. The fight took place on 18 June at Accor Arena in Paris, France.

The snub leaves Ankalaev without an opponent at UFC Paris after his original matchup collapsed. Costa’s refusal to accept the late change means the UFC must now find a new opponent on short notice or reshuffle the card. Ankalaev, ranked No. 2 in the UFC light heavyweight division, remains in title contention and was set to face a top-tier contender before the change.

The UFC has 48 hours to finalize a new opponent for Ankalaev or move him to a different event. Costa’s comments add pressure on the promotion to handle replacement fights more smoothly. Ankalaev’s next fight will likely determine his path to a title shot against Jan Blachowicz or Jiří Procházka.