Report: Yoel Romero vs Paulo Costa targeted for UFC 241 in August
Two of the UFC’s top middleweight fighters are scheduled to meet once again, and all parties are hoping the fourth attempting at booking them is the charm. According to Ariel Helwani of ESPN, Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa are expected to face each other at UFC 241 which takes place on August 17, 2019 in Anaheim, California.
Yoel Romero vs. Paulo Costa has been verbally agreed to for UFC 241 on Aug. 17 in Anaheim, according to sources. More in a moment, including a great quote from Costa.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 7, 2019
This will be the fourth booking for Romero vs Costa, as previous attempts last November, this past January, and this past April were all unsuccessful. The rivalry between the two has been building throughout these failed booking attempts and really came to a boiling point when Romero claimed that Costa was dealing with an issue with USADA, which came true. Costa is currently serving a six-month suspension for IV use back in 2017.
With news dropping of the scheduled fight between the two, Costa released a statement to ESPN calling the fight between Romero “personal” for everything he has said.
“Yoel Romero needs to understand this is personal. He’s a liar. He’s a Soldier of God? How can he call himself a Soldier of God if he is spreading gossip? He’s a soldier of devil for spreading lies. And he’s going to pay. Now is the time for him to pay.”
Romero’s agent, Abraham Kawa would release a response on behalf of Romero responding to Costa calling him a solider of devil for spreading lies regarding Costa’s IV use.
@arielhelwani yoel response to being called a liar https://t.co/1MUHd7Ea4j
— Abe kawa (@Abraham_kawa) May 7, 2019
Yoel Romero has not fought since UFC 225 when he took on current middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in a rematch for the title, where he lost by split decision. Paulo Costa is currently undefeated in his professional MMA career, and all of his wins have come by stoppage. Costa’s most recent win came against Uriah Hall who he defeated at UFC 226 last July.
UFC 241 is scheduled to take place on August 17, 2019 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and is expected to be headlined by Daniel Cormier vs Stipe Miocic 2, a rematch for the UFC’s heavyweight title.
