​MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 11: Paulo Costa of Brazil reacts after a knockout victory against Azamat Murzakanov of Russia in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC 327 event at Kaseya Center on April 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC) Dana White has no sympathy for Paulo Costa as the enigmatic light heavyweight attempts to fight out his UFC contract and become a free agent.Costa has one bout left on his current deal and is eager to get it done. But he’s also not willing to accept a five round fight because it doesn’t pay more than a three round fight. That’s led to a number of statements from Costa on X (formerly Twitter) accusing UFC matchmakers of being unfair.“Ok, I’m making this public and clear,” Costa wrote on Sunday. “I have 1 fight left. On my contract The purse is set for 3 rounds, not 5. I’m asking for the 3-round fight that was already agreed on contract . It can be anyone on the UFC LHW roaster.”Dana White, when asked about Paulo Costa: “He’s been offered fights and turned them down…we don’t just say, ‘Fuck Paulo Costa and you’re not gonna get a fight. No, we’re not gonna pay you. No, we’re not gonna do this.’ Guys get offered three fights a year regularly. Even guys… pic.twitter.com/96VKK1R4JG— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) September 23, 2026“I think Hunter has 3 options now: A) Give me that last 3-round fight (I’ll take any opponent). B) Give me a 5-round fight at LHW against anyone in 6 weeks. I’ll take it, BUT raise my purse accordingly. That’s the minimum that’s fair, right? C) Release me from my contract now. Simple and clean. I hope everyone understands.”In truth, Hunter Campbell has a fourth option: continue offering Costa fights he turns down, which allows the UFC to toll his contract and extend it indefinitely. UFC CEO Dana White put this in terms much friendlier to his interests than that, but basically said the same thing.“What the f—k does that event mean? He’s been offered fights and turned them down,” White said following the latest Contender Series event. “We don’t just say, ‘F—k Paulo Costa and you’re not gonna get a fight. No, we’re not gonna pay you. No, we’re not gonna do this.’ Guys get offered three fights a year, regularly.”Ok, I’m making this public and clear:I have 1 fight left. On my contract The purse is set for 3 rounds, not 5. I’m asking for the 3-round fight that was already agreed on contract . It can be anyone on the UFC LHW roaster.I think Hunter has 3 options now:A) Give me that last…— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) September 20, 2026“Even guys that aren’t fighting. Like, Tom Aspinall’s eyes are messed up. He’s getting offered fights. You think Paulo Costa isn’t getting offered fights?”That last part is telling: even Tom Aspinall is getting offered fights even though he’s injured. That’s not because the UFC is making sure everyone is offered a fair amount of fights per year. That’s becaus