Joe Rogan crowns Paulo Costa as future UFC light heavyweight champ after Carlos Ulberg's ACL injury
Longtime UFC analyst Joe Rogan believes former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa could take the light heavyweight throne.
Earlier this month, UFC 327 featured plenty of highlight-reel finishes and wild fights. One of which was former UFC middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa’s shocking knockout of the previously unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov in the co-main event, after Costa made the full-time move to the light heavyweight division.
In the UFC 327 headliner, Carlos Ulberg capped off his remarkable run in the light heavyweight division with a come-from-behind KO to win the then-vacant light heavyweight championship. But Ulberg suffered a serious leg injury just seconds into the fight with Jiri Prochazka, and recently underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL.
Amidst Ulberg’s uncertain return timeline and Alex Pereira’s recent departure, the light heavyweight division is in a peculiar place after UFC 327. UFC CEO Dana White has no plans of booking an interim title bout amidst Ulberg’s absence, but that could change in the coming months.
Joe Rogan, who has witnessed the ups and downs of the light heavyweight division first-hand, believes Costa is on the verge of claiming the throne at 205 lbs.
In a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan blanketed the former middleweight title challenger with glowing praise.
“He looked f****** phenomenal. If I were in his corner, I would say ‘Dude, never go back to middleweight. You are a f***** light heavyweight champion!’,” Rogan said of Costa.
“While Carlos Ulberg is going to be out for at least a year, for ACL reconstruction, Paulo Costa could be the interim light heavyweight champion. No doubt! I really feel like he could pull that off. At light heavyweight, he’s f****** terrifying. He looks like the Paulo Costa of old!”
After Rogan’s remarks went viral, it didn’t take long for Costa to respond on social media.
“Joe Rogan always speaking facts,” Costa posted on X in response to Rogan’s praise.
Who should Paulo Costa fight next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
