Dana White defended Paulo Costa‘s withdrawal from his UFC 294 fight due to a serious staph infection, stating that the injury was legitimate and the fighter needed to prioritize his health, while Khamzat Chimaev accused Costa of running away from the fight.
Paulo Costa faced backlash from Khamzat Chimaev after his withdrawal from the UFC 294 fight due to a serious staph infection in his elbow. Costa’s hospitalization and subsequent surgeries rendered him medically unfit to compete, according to his team. Despite their rocky history, UFC President Dana White came to Costa’s defense, acknowledging the legitimacy of his injury.
White addressed the press conference, acknowledging Costa’s troublesome attitude but emphasizing the seriousness of his injury. The Brazilian middleweight had expressed his intention to fight, but ultimately, doctors disagreed. Responding to the crowd’s disapproval, White stood by Costa’s decision to withdraw, assuring everyone that it was not a convenient excuse.
Chimaev, however, remained skeptical and reacted strongly to questions about Costa’s future. He bluntly accused Costa of being frightened and running away from the fight. While the length of Costa’s absence due to the staph infection remains uncertain, it is worth noting that his most recent victory was in August 2022 against Luke Rockhold. Despite signing a new multi-fight contract with the UFC, his first match under the new deal will have to be postponed.
In summary, Costa’s withdrawal from UFC 294 due to a severe staph infection in his elbow received support from Dana White, despite their previous conflicts. The UFC President defended Costa’s decision and reaffirmed the legitimacy of his injury. Chimaev, on the other hand, openly criticized Costa, accusing him of cowardice. The timetable for Costa’s return remains unknown, and his eagerly awaited UFC comeback will have to be delayed.