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UFC middleweight Paulo Costa was initially scheduled to face Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event of UFC 294 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Saturday, October 21.
Unfortunately, Costa withdrew from the bout less than two weeks out from fight night after undergoing surgeries on his injured elbow.
That didn’t stop Costa from throwing hands and getting in on some action, however.
During UFC 294, videos began to circulate showing Costa getting into the middle of a brawl in the crowd. Someone jumped the barrier and completely sold out on a superman punch before Costa charged back at him with some shots of his own until security stepped in.
PAULO COSTA GETTING IN FIGHTS IN ABU DHABI ONE WAY OR ANOTHER #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/cmIKP0ve1y
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) October 21, 2023
Some people on social media seemed to indicate the person who initially attacked Costa was Shovkal Churchaev, a 3-0 professional mixed martial arts fighter from Russia and not just a random fan.
Oh, MMA… the gift that never stops giving.
