UFC

UFC 284: Costa vs. Whittaker CANCELED due to failed negotiations

Published

December 20, 2022

Paulo Costa Robert Whittaker UFC Frontkick.online

Paulo Costa and Robert Whittaker was scheduled to fight at UFC 28. Photo: Jason da Silva / Kyle Terada – USA TODAY Sports

Top ranked middleweights Paulo Costa and Robert Whittaker were supposed to clash at UFC 284 in February. However, the highly anticipated fight is now canceled due to contract negotiations between Costa and the UFC falling through. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was first to report the news.

In a recent tweet, Costa gave his side of the story.

“Guys sending me this, I feel sad for Robert because the UFC didn’t tell him the truth lol, you don’t deserve this,” Costa tweeted. “Bro, sorry I won’t fight you in Perth UFC posting this (Robert vs Costa)just to sell tickets, you need to realize that. They didn’t pay me, I’m out! I’m not joking.”

Robert Whittaker is out of UFC 284

In a video posted to Twitter, Whittaker reacted to the cancellation of the fight. He also said that UFC plans to now have him fight in March or April.

“It’s very upsetting to say they’re true,” Whittaker said. “The fight with Costa has fallen apart. UFC tried everything in their power to get him to the fight. They gave him the new contract, from what I understand, to take the fight and he still didn’t take the fight. So yeah, the Perth fight is not happening.”

“We’re already so deep into my camp. Everyone knows that I train hard. My camps are quite long. I’m already so deep into my camp and work and I want to take the family out and go on holiday after the fight.”