Borrachinha asks UFC to reschedule fight against Chimaev and provokes rival

Paulo borrachinha He is a Brazilian standout in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

Paulo borrachinha revealed that he is negotiating with the UFC to reschedule the fight against the Swedish Khamzat Shimaev, which was canceled in October this year due to an injury to the miner. The Brazilian stated that he wants to face his rival in the event that the organization will hold in Saudi Arabia, in March 2024. He also reinforced his interest in going head-to-head against the former champion Robert whittaker.

Borrachinha used social media to expose the conversation he had with the UFC and to challenge his potential opponents. The middleweight (up to 83,9kg) said he doesn't see a better five-round main fight than his fight against Chimaev.

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“I've been persistently telling the UFC to reschedule this fight for UFC Saudi Arabia, I can't see a better five-round main fight at the moment. It makes sense in the Middle East. I would love to beat him up there, but it seems like the 'gourmet chenchen' doesn't want to. The other guy on the list is Rob (Robert whittaker), if he is interested, I propose that they agree sooner or later, because I want to be active in 2024”, he wrote on “X” (formerly Twitter).

I have been persistently telling the UFC to reschedule this fight for UFC Saudi Arabia, I can't see a best main event of 5 rounds for it right now cause it's making sense in Middle East. I would love to beat his ass over there. but it's looks like gourmet chenchen doesn't want that…

- Paulo Costa (Borrachinha) (@BorrachinhaMMA) December 6, 2023

Borrachinha did not fight in 2023

Borrachinha, who is sixth in the middleweight rankings, has not fought since August 2022, when he beat the former champion Luke Rockhold by technical knockout. The Minas Gerais native was scheduled to face Chimaev in the UFC 294, in Abu Dhabi, but had to withdraw from the card because of an elbow infection that required three surgeries. In his place, the Nigerian Kamaru Usman, who ended up losing to the Emirati on points.

The UFC has not yet officially confirmed the date and location of the event in Saudi Arabia, but has already announced that it will be the first in a series of four cards that will be held in the country in 2024. The company's president, Dana White, said he hopes to take big names in MMA for the Arab market, which has grown in recent years.