Exclusive | Paulo Costa Eyes Mike Perry Fight as UFC Contract Nears End “I’m already free even before the next fight.”
Paulo Costa says he wants to keep his options open as his UFC deal winds down, and that includes a possible fight with Mike Perry if the MVP is willing to make it happen. In a recent interview, Costa said Perry “would be a great fight” and floated a catchweight around 84 kilos, while also saying he is not in a rush to renew unless the offer is right.
Paulo Costa Opens Door to Mike Perry Fight While UFC Future Remains Unclear
Costa’s comments land at a moment when he is already talking about what comes next and keeping an eye on MVP on Netflix to face Mike Perry. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Low Kick MMA, thanks to the help of Compare.bet, Paulo Costa explained:
“There’s a weight difference, but I think we could meet [Mike Perry] somewhere around 84 kilos. Mike Perry has been knocking a lot of people out, both in BKFC and MMA. He’s reinvented himself. I’d like to do that fight. Now, I don’t know if the UFC would allow it. We’re talking with the UFC to understand what my next fight will be, but I want to keep my options open.
“I still only have one fight left on the contract and I haven’t renewed yet. It’s not really in my interest to renew right now unless a spectacular offer comes in. There’s no point renewing just for the sake of renewing. There’s also the issue of contract duration. A contract doesn’t only expire based on the number of fights, but also by time. If I’m not mistaken, my contract term expired in March. I need to confirm properly because maybe I’m already free even before the next fight.“
“I have one fight left on this contract,” and added that he wants to see how negotiations play out before committing to a new deal. He also said, “The UFC already wanted to renew the contract. We’re seeing if we do one more and then sit down to negotiate,” which suggests the next booking could shape both his future and his bargaining position.
On Twitter he added:
“I have 3 options right now at ufc :1. Fight for 185 belt – Strickland rematch
2 .fight at heavyweight weight Hokit
3 . Ask for ufc release me of my last fight contract and go face Mike “The Platinum” Perry at Netflix…
Mike Perry is my favorite match right now.”
The Mike Perry idea is the part that will grab attention. Costa called Perry “a great fight” and said Perry has been “knocking a lot of people out” in BKFC and MMA, adding that Perry “has reinvented himself.”
Costa also made clear that he does not want to sign away leverage just to stay busy. “It’s not really in my interest to renew right now unless a spectacular offer comes in,” he said, adding that there is “no point renewing just for the sake of renewing”. He further said contract length is part of the issue, explaining that an agreement can expire by time as well as by number of fights, and claimed, “If I’m not mistaken, my contract term expired in March,” though he said he still needs to confirm that properly.
UFC deals are often tied to both fight count and timing, and fighters can reach free agency faster than fans expect if the calendar runs out before the fights do. Costa’s remarks fit his long-running posture toward the promotion: he has previously said he wants better terms and has talked before about exploring life after the UFC once his deal ends. For now, though, his latest comments suggest a simple position: one more UFC fight may happen, but he is already weighing a wider set of choices.
Costa enters the discussion off a strong run in the UFC, where he beat Roman Kopylov in July 2025 before stopping Azamat Murzakanov by third-round knockout at UFC 327 in April 2026, a result that boosted his standing across two weight classes. Perry, meanwhile, has stayed active outside the UFC and built his name in BKFC, where his profile has grown through knockout wins and a run that included a victory over Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82 in October 2025. Most recently, Perry defeated Nate Diaz in MVP live on Netflix.
At the center of all this is a fighter trying to use his final stretch of leverage well. Costa’s stance is blunt, and his target list is wider than a standard UFC path would suggest, with Mike Perry now part of the conversation. The next move will likely tell the story: a UFC bout, a new deal, or a push toward something outside the cage such as MVP on Netflix.
