A couple of the greatest middleweights around the planet are set to battle in a long-awaited bout after this spring, and I will give my initial thoughts on the matchup in today’s MMA odds and ends.
Yoel Romero vs. Paulo Costa, UFC on ESPN 3
Top-ranked middleweights Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa will battle at the Primary event of UFC on ESPN 3, that is set for April 27 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. The bout was initially reported by Combate. It will be a five-round fight, it is likely the winner of this bout could be next in line for a crack at the UFC middleweight title now held by Robert Whittaker, who fights Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 234 in early February. (Although we need to keep Israel Adesanya in that dialog as well).
Romero (13-3) is 41-years older, but you would not know it. He’s in amazing physical condition and is fighting at an extremely large degree. The Cuban wrestling senstation is 9-2 overall from the UFC, with wins over the likes of Luke Rockhold, Chris Weidman, Ronaldo”Jacare” Souza, Lyoto Machida, Brad Tavares and Derek Brunson. Seven of the UFC successes have come by knockout, and 11 total of his wins have come by knockout. He has only been stopped once in his whole career, by Rafael”Feijao” Cavalcante back in Strikeforce, also at the UFC he has only lost twice, both razor-thin choices to Whittaker. In many ways it is fair to think about Romero the second-best middleweight in the world behind the Australian champion. However, with just two losses to Whittaker, Romero is at the same place as somebody like Stephen”Wonderboy” Thompson in welterweight. With other contenders in the combination, Romero needs to keep busy and keep winning fights so as to possibly get a third title fight from the Whittaker vs. Gastelum winner.
Costa (12-0) is a perfect 4-0 at the UFC and all of his career victories have come by knockout or submission, such as brutal knockouts over Johny Hendricks and Uriah Hall in his last two bouts. The Brazilian was labeled the next big thing by most fans and press, but so far he is still very unproven against the top echelon of this UFC middleweight division. At just 27, he is correct in his prime and proceeds to show an improved skill-set every time we see him inside the Octagon. No doubt he has looked fantastic against lesser opposition, and when he looks fantastic against Romero and has the win he will be in an enviable position in regards to the middleweight title shot pecking order.
This is a superb fight, and the fact it is place for five rounds makes it better. As far as that I favor, I think you have to tag Romero as the favorite just based on everything he’s accomplished so far from the Octagon. Not to mention that when this struggle was originally booked for UFC 230, Romero was initially pegged as the betting favorite ahead of the line was shot down. Costa has looked great recently, however, and he’s got a 14-year age advantage in this fight, but until we see him actually beat a top guy it is difficult to say he should be favored over any of these. Regardless of who wins the struggle, this should be an entertaining matchup and it’s the perfect main occasion for the Hispanic audience in Miami.
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