UFC legend blasts Paulo Borrachinha ahead of next fight: 'mental block'

M. Bisping on his 'YouTube' channel. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube

Paulo Borrachinha enfrenta Roman Kopylov na luta co-principal do UFC 318, neste sábado (19), para voltar ao caminho das vitórias. O brasileiro venceu apenas uma das últimas cinco lutas. O lutador tinha um cartel invicto de 13 lutas até esbarrar com Israel Adesanya pelo caminho. Muitos acreditam que a derrota na disputa pelo cinturão dos médios (até 83,9kg.) abalou o lutador. O ex-campeão do UFC Michael Bisping soltou o verbo sobre a má fase de Borrachinha e chegou a questionar as faculdades mentais do atleta.

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Former rival Israel Adesanya provokes Paulo Borrachinha and appeals to the Brazilian before UFC 318

Borrachinha's coach explains his departure from UFC 317 and highlights the athlete's focus on facing Kopylov

Paulo Borrachinha once again teases a fight with Khamzat Chimaev on the eve of UFC 318: 'totally personal'

"'Mr. Inconsistent,' Paulo Costa, 'Borrachinha,' who has become a bit of a meme. He's a very funny guy to follow on social media. Some of the things he posts are hilarious, but what's not so funny are his performances inside the Octagon. The reason he's losing is because it seems like a mental block... Paulo Costa is his own worst enemy," Bisping said in his UFC 318 analysis video.

"Athletically and physically, he's very talented, but I think he's lacking a bit. I don't mean that as an insult. I mean, there's a mental disconnect. A sports psychologist would definitely help him," the current UFC commentator said.

Paulo Borrachinha in the UFC

Paulo Borrachinha is a prominent Brazilian fighter in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

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Borrachinha debuted in the UFC in 2017 and, in his first four fights, accumulated four knockouts. In his fifth, he defeated Yoel Romero in a true war inside the octagon, establishing himself as one of the top names in the division.

Paulo Costa's sixth UFC fight was against Israel Adesanya, for the middleweight title. However, the Brazilian couldn't find his rhythm against the Nigerian inside the cage, was knocked out in the second round, and since then has never managed to regain his good form.

In Borrachinha's last five fights, the Brazilian only had his arm raised once, against Luck Rockhold. However, he was defeated by Sean Strickland, Robert Whittaker, and Marvin Vetori.