The highly anticipated middleweight fight between former title challenger Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa ended exactly the way fans had hoped.
Paulo Costa started the fight by applying pressure on Romero and initially, he was unfazed by Romero’s power and kept moving forward. Both fighters were knocked down in the first round. However, the fight was paused momentarily when Costa landed an accidental kick to Romero’s shin. However, in the end, it was Costa who’s hands were raised by the referee, although the crowd at the Honda Center in Anaheim didn’t seem to like the decision and were booing Costa.
All the three judges scored the fight 29-28 in favour of the Brazilian. He later called out the winner of Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, who are scheduled to fight at UFC 243 in Melbourne.
“I bring my best for this fight. I’m training like a crazy man. Yoel Romero is a real beast,” Costa said after the win. “I just came here to take my belt. I will be waiting for [Israel] Adesanya against [Robert] Whittaker.
“After this fight, I want my chance to prove I am the champion.”
With this win, Paulo Costa extended his win record to 5-0 in UFC and 13-0 overall.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to his victory.
Yoel seriously tried (and may have succeeded) to distract a rampaging Costa hunting a KO off a KD with a "look over there" point. Romero is a treasure. #UFC241 pic.twitter.com/pNQDc6gcpy
— Sriram Muralidaran (@SriramMSays) August 18, 2019
He disagrees with the judges, but @YoelRomeroMMA and Costa both left the Octagon as winners based on fan reaction #UFC241 pic.twitter.com/HHHD0B0Bwt
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 18, 2019
Definitely a good fight, I don’t see how that was a unanimous decision Costa
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) August 18, 2019
Yoel Romero vs. Paulo Costa was MMA’s version of King Kong vs. Godzilla.
— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) August 18, 2019
Definitely don’t see how Costa won that
— Luis Antonio Pena (@violentbobross) August 18, 2019
**Paulo Costa dropping bombs here at #UFC241
Yoel Romero: pic.twitter.com/BDi5nN15yf
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) August 18, 2019
Fuck every last one of those fans booing Costa. #UFC241
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) August 18, 2019
Costa says he’s waiting for the winner of Adesanya v Whittaker. Crowd boos but he’s right. He’s most likely next.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 18, 2019
Man, Yoel Romero vs. Paulo Costa delivered. Big time. That was fantastic! I'd love to see a rematch one day and it be a 5 rounder. Take a bow, gentleman. #UFC241 pic.twitter.com/2UXNZLLCQR
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) August 18, 2019
Costa's and yoel's chin in a nutshell #UFC241 pic.twitter.com/6wcH9C95c2
— Foreverkanon (@Foreverkanon1) August 18, 2019
Yo Romero vs Costa was like a Movie.
Incredible Fight #UFC241 @ufc— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) August 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/drockett69/status/1162933561403592704?s=20
Paulo Costa attacking Romero's D*ck like 😂😂😂😂😂#UFC241pic.twitter.com/fvZn4JN54y
— MMA India (@MMAIndiaShow) August 18, 2019
Yoel Romero everytime Costa hits him 😂😂😂😂 #UFC241 pic.twitter.com/uo20alPhjT
— Ant (@AntVeress) August 18, 2019
"I will be waiting for Adesanya vs Whittaker." 👀
"I want my chance to prove I am the champion!"
A great moment between Romero and Costa after an absolute belter of a fight 🙌#UFC241 pic.twitter.com/Yf2SRVhUSG
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) August 18, 2019
I do wanna see Costa fuck izzy's ass up tho.. let's make that Costas next fight!!
— ✶ 🎀 𝒥𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝒸𝒶 🎀 ✶ (@Jessica38421785) August 18, 2019
I fucking love Paulo Costa. He's gained a fan tonight. #UFC241
— The Combat Hub (@combathubreal) August 18, 2019
Costa exhausted after that incredible fight #UFC241 pic.twitter.com/fUX69XkWkj
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) August 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/GfromWHOATV/status/1162931752240898049?s=20
MY GOD WHAT A FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my goodness 15 minutes of Yoel Romero vs Paulo Costa was aaaaaaaaalmost better than sex#UFC241 #UFCAnaheim
— Esha Chanel (@eshaknowsmma_) August 18, 2019
Romero vs. Costa was just everything. No idea who took the decision. Don’t care. Can they both win? #UFC241
— Marc Raimondi (@marc_raimondi) August 18, 2019
Costa drops Romero during one of their haymaker sessions..#UFC241 pic.twitter.com/cL0CLhruMq
— Ajax Advanced (@AjaxAdvanced) August 18, 2019
"The Gang Watches Romero vs Costa" #UFC241 pic.twitter.com/KDBoWuZtBu
— Crms (@CrmsFGC) August 18, 2019
I'm still not sure I've ever seen Yoel Romero lose in the Octagon.
— Brian Campbell (@BCampbellCBS) August 18, 2019
Yoel Romero after every time he eats a punch #UFC241 pic.twitter.com/5s0XjYm2tN
— Michael Stets (@Michael_Stets) August 18, 2019
I thought Romero won. #UFC241
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) August 18, 2019
Romero won that fight. Prove me wrong #UFC241 @ufc
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) August 18, 2019
Had Romero last 2 rounds
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) August 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/fightoracle/status/1162958490698227712?s=20
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