Paulo Costa, the Brazilian middleweight beast known as “Borrachinha,” keeps delivering knockouts and tough decisions in the UFC octagon. With his rubber-man durability and savage striking, he’s one of those fighters you can’t look away from, especially after his recent win pushing his record to 15-4 as of early 2026.
Paulo Costa’s Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Paulo Costa |
| Nickname | Borrachinha (The Eraser) |
| Date of Birth | April 21, 1991 |
| Age | 34 years |
| Birthplace | Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Religion | N/A |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Height | 6’0″ (183 cm) |
| Weight Class | Middleweight (185 lbs) |
| Reach | N/A |
| Gym/Team | Team Borracha (Contagem, Brazil) |
| Professional Debut | February 25, 2012 |
| Current Ranking | #12 UFC Middleweight (as of Jan 2026); #13 recent |
| MMA Record | 15-4-0 (12 TKOs, 1 Sub, 2 Dec wins) |
| Net Worth | $2-3 million |
| Marital Status | In a relationship |
| Partner | Long-term girlfriend Tamara Alves |
| Children | N/A |
| Instagram Profile | @borrachinhamma |
Paulo grew up in Contagem, Brazil, overcoming street fights by starting Muay Thai at age 9 for discipline. His brother Carlos “Borracha” Costa, a former fighter, runs Team Borracha with him, where he hones his skills daily.
Early Career
Paulo Costa kicked off MMA in 2012 at age 20 in Brazil’s regional scene. He racked up an 8-0 record with 7 finishes, including TKOs over Adriano Balby and Eduardo Ramon in Jungle Fight, where he snagged the middleweight title. A brother convinced their mom to back him for a year; he never looked back, blending Muay Thai power with street grit before UFC scouts called.
Professional Career
Costa exploded into the UFC in 2017 with a 1st-round demolition of Garreth McLellan, then KO’d Oluwale Bamgbose and Johny Hendricks quick. Wins over Uriah Hall and a epic war vs. Yoel Romero shot him to title contention, but Israel Adesanya stopped him via TKO in 2020.
Setbacks to Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, and Sean Strickland followed, yet he bounced back with decisions over Luke Rockhold in 2022 and Roman Kopylov in July 2025 at UFC 318. At 15-4, his pressure and chin keep him top-15, eyeing bigger fights in 2026.
Girlfriend
Paulo Costa has been with girlfriend Tamara Alves since 2013, after meeting at a jiu-jitsu event through her cousin’s husband. Tamara, a civil engineer and fitness entrepreneur behind MundoFit supplements, stays low-key but pops up on his YouTube sharing workout life and cat pics. No kids mentioned; they keep family private amid his fight grind.
Paulo Costa’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Paulo Costa’s net worth sits at an estimated $2-3 million. This comes from UFC purses totaling over $1.7 million recorded, PPV points on big cards, and side hustles like his “Secret Juice” brand. Recent deals boost it, but no exact 2026 figures out yet; managers hint at $1M+ per fight now.
Fight Purses
| Fight | Opponent | Event | Estimated Purse |
| Jul 2025 | Roman Kopylov | UFC 318 | $700,000 base |
| Jun 2024 | Sean Strickland | UFC 302 | $500,000+ (est.) |
| Feb 2024 | Robert Whittaker | UFC 298 | $500,000 (est.) |
| Aug 2022 | Luke Rockhold | UFC 278 | $300,000+ |
| Oct 2021 | Marvin Vettori | UFC FN 196 | $250,000+ |
| Sep 2020 | Israel Adesanya | UFC 253 | $1,230,000 (biggest) |
| Jul 2018 | Uriah Hall | UFC 226 | $164,000 (55k base + bonus + sponsor) |
Career Earnings
| Period | Total Earnings | Notes |
| UFC Total Recorded | $1,712,167 | Includes PPV, bonuses up to 2022 |
| Pre-UFC (2012-2016) | Not disclosed | Regional Brazilian events |
| 2023-2026 Est. | $2M+ additional | New deal $1M+/fight, recent wins |
| Bonuses Only | $200,000+ | 4x (2 FOTN, 2 Performance) |
| Grand Total Est. | $4M+ career | Purses + endorsements |
Endorsements
Paulo Costa stacks cash outside the cage with smart brand ties fitting his beast mode image. He’s global ambassador for 500 Casino since 2024, pushing crypto gaming to Brazilian fans, and reps Dialed Moods supplements in 2026 alongside WBC boxers. His own “Secret Juice” energy drink sells big via borrachinha.com, plus past fitness gear nods. These deals, managed tight, add six figures yearly without distracting from fights.
Achievements
| Achievement | Details | Year |
| Jungle Fight Middleweight Title | Won & 1 defense | 2016 |
| UFC Newcomer of the Year | Ranked #7 | 2017 |
| Fight of the Year | vs. Yoel Romero | 2019 |
| Performance Bonuses | 2x (Hall, Hendricks) | 2018 |
| Fight of the Night | 2x (Romero, others) | 2019 |
| Top-15 UFC Ranking | #12 Middleweight | 2026 |
| Undefeated Streak | 14-0 | 2012-2020 |
Fight Record
| Date | Opponent | Event | Result | Method | Round/Time |
| Jul 19, 2025 | Roman Kopylov | UFC 318 | Win | Unanimous Decision | 3/5:00 |
| Jun 1, 2024 | Sean Strickland | UFC 302 | Loss | Split Decision | 5/5:00 |
| Feb 17, 2024 | Robert Whittaker | UFC 298 | Loss | Unanimous Decision | 3/5:00 |
| Aug 20, 2022 | Luke Rockhold | UFC 278 | Win | Unanimous Decision | 3/5:00 |
| Oct 23, 2021 | Marvin Vettori | UFC FN 196 | Loss | Unanimous Decision | 5/5:00 |
| Sep 26, 2020 | Israel Adesanya | UFC 253 | Loss | TKO (Punches/Elbows) | 2/3:59 |
| Aug 17, 2019 | Yoel Romero | UFC 241 | Win | Unanimous Decision | 3/5:00 |
| Jul 7, 2018 | Uriah Hall | UFC 226 | Win | TKO (Punches) | 2/2:38 |
| Nov 4, 2017 | Johny Hendricks | UFC 217 | Win | TKO (Punches) | 2/1:23 |
| Jun 3, 2017 | Oluwale Bamgbose | UFC 212 | Win | TKO (Punches) | 2/1:06 |
FAQs
1. Who is Paulo Costa?
Paulo Costa is a Brazilian professional MMA fighter competing in the UFC middleweight division. Known as “Borrachinha” or “The Eraser,” he is recognized for his knockout power and aggressive style.
2. What is Paulo Costa’s age and height?
Paulo Costa was born on April 21, 1991, making him 34 years old. He stands at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall with a 76-inch reach.
3. What is Paulo Costa’s UFC record?
Paulo Costa holds a professional record of 15-4-0, with 11 knockouts, 1 submission, and 3 decisions in the UFC middleweight division. His latest win was a unanimous decision over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318 in July 2025.
4. Why is Paulo Costa called “Borrachinha”?
“Borrachinha” translates to “little rubber” or “The Eraser” in English, reflecting his ability to “erase” opponents with powerful strikes. The nickname originated from his early fighting days in Brazil, inspired by his brother’s similar moniker.
5. What is Paulo Costa’s fighting style?
Costa employs an aggressive, pressure-heavy striking style rooted in boxing and Muay Thai, backed by Brazilian jiu-jitsu for grappling defense. He overwhelms foes with knockout power and a 79% takedown defense rate.
6. What are Paulo Costa’s notable wins?
Key victories include TKOs over Johny Hendricks, Uriah Hall, and Oluwale Bamgbose, plus decisions against Yoel Romero and Luke Rockhold. His UFC debut was a first-round TKO of Garreth McLellan.
7. What are Paulo Costa’s losses in UFC?
Costa lost to Israel Adesanya by second-round TKO at UFC 253 for the middleweight title, unanimous decision to Marvin Vettori, unanimous decision to Robert Whittaker, and split decision to Sean Strickland.
8. What is Paulo Costa’s background?
From Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Costa worked as a realtor and IT instructor before MMA. He started training Muay Thai at age nine and debuted professionally in 2012 after attending UFC 147, going undefeated until 2020.
9. Has Paulo Costa ever missed fights?
Yes, Costa has withdrawn from six UFC bouts, including against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 due to elbow surgery and recent ones like vs. Brunno Ferreira at UFC 326. He often cites injuries.
10. What is Paulo Costa’s next fight?
Paulo Costa is scheduled to move to light heavyweight against an undefeated 16-0 KO artist at UFC 327, following a withdrawal from a middleweight bout earlier in 2026.