Paulo Costa says he will step in to fight Josh Hokit at heavyweight if Derrick Lewis cannot make his match at the UFC: White House event on June 14.
Costa says he will be a late replacement
Costa wrote on X that he told the UFC he would take the fight if Lewis pulls out. He wrote, “I just let ufc knows if Derek Lewis gets out his fight for some reason I will step in at White House as heavyweight. No bullsh*t , ain’t lying.”
He added that he is ready to fight Hokit at the White House show on June 14 and asked the UFC to consider moving Lewis to another opponent on the same card if needed.
Why Costa wants the fight
Costa said fans would like to see how he, “who was perhaps the biggest middleweight in history,” would do against Hokit in the heavyweight division without cutting weight. He even suggested he might come in heavier than Hokit.
Part of Costa’s push comes from recent bonus controversy. Hokit took both Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night for a wild brawl with Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327. Costa felt his own head-kick finish of Azamat Murzakanov should have earned a $100,000 bonus instead.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Josh Hokit | Won a wild brawl vs Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 — earned Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night |
| Paulo Costa | Finished Azamat Murzakanov with a head kick at 205 lbs |
| Derrick Lewis | Scheduled to face Josh Hokit at UFC: White House on June 14 |
What this could mean for the card
Costa has recently fought up at 205 pounds, which makes him a notable figure in the light heavyweight division. That history makes it more likely the UFC will try to build him as a contender at that weight rather than give him a one-off fight at heavyweight.
Still, Costa is clear he would accept a late change and fight Hokit as a heavyweight if Lewis is injured or removed from the card. The event remains set for June 14 under the name UFC: White House. No changes to the lineup have been confirmed by the UFC at this time.
Report via UFCcoverage.
