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Paulo Costa spars Olympic wrestlers after surgery: “Two weeks is enough to train”

Published

October 10, 2023

Paulo Costa MMA UFC 294 Frontkick.online

Paulo Costa will face Khamzat Chimaev on October 21. Photo via Instagram (@borrachinhamma)

Former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa had a rough time preparing for the pivotal fight against undefeated star Khamzat Chimaev. However, Costa recently revealed that he needed elbow surgery just five weeks before the massive co-headliner.

Even though it seems very close to the fight, the Brazilian claimed it’s enough time to prepare.

“Two weeks is enough to train, because I am in shape, I’m ready. I came ready to this fight. I’ve been calling [out] this guy to fight, Gourmet Chen Chen, a long time ago,” Costa told The MMA Hour. “He doesn’t want that fight. I want this fight so bad and I will not let him [escape so] easily.”

According to the Brazilian fighter, the UFC are worried about him making the fight because of the surgery.

“14 more days before and after surgery. So they’re a little bit worried about my health. But I’m sparring, I’m doing everything.”

Coach is confident in Paulo Costa

Longtime coach Eric Albarracin, however, is not worried that Paulo Costa will be prepared enough for Chimaev.

“I can tell you, he’s been looking great,” Albarracin said. “Even when he had stitches, he was training, he just wasn’t using the right arm. Once the stitches came out, [he went] right back into sparring, he’s looked awesome.

The coach recruited some high-level sparring partners to prepare the Brazilian middleweight for his tough opponent.

“I brought some of the best guys in the world [into camp]. Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, I’ve traveled around the world — and to Japan — to find these partners. Olympic wrestlers. Everything.”

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