When Paulo Costa loses a unanimous decision to Robert Whittaker in the co-main event of UFC 298, fellow middleweight Caio Boralho refuses to right the mistakes 'Borrachinha' made in losing so many times. I couldn't help but be confused by the situation.
Boralho told MMA Fighting. Trocason Franca On the podcast, he said he liked Costa as an entertaining athlete, but advised him to go back to the drawing board to fix his game.
“What I'm most worried about is [Costa] ate the same calf kick [Israel] Adesanya landed,” Boralho said. “Same kick. Again. I was like, 'What do you think?' Can't you see this? ” When he stands on his lead foot to throw a right hand, he gets kicked in the calf. That's the basics these days.
“I thought it was insufficient. [adjustments]. “Borrachinha” is a very dangerous man, very athletic and can easily deliver super-fast head kicks.I see he's big and huge and can kick his head high and end a fight with anyone in the world, but I really thought he lacked strength [adjustments]”
Boralho said he had practiced with Costa for 10 days in the past, but had doubts about his compatriot's ability to perform on fight night as well as Costa does in the gym. Costa started his pro MMA career with 13 straight wins and 11 knockouts, but hasn't finished anyone since stopping Uriah Hall in July 2018. Of the six fighters he has defeated under the UFC banner, none have yet to sign a promotional contract.
“'Borrachinha' is a machine,” Boralho said. “I thought he might not be able to take advantage of it when he fights. I don't know if he's overtraining, I don't know, but he won't be able to perform as well in a fight as he did in training. ”
All three judges scored the fight in Whittaker's favor, and Boralho teased Costa on social media by hinting that Costa could have won by decision, saying, “What was fun was Paulo's spinning heel kick in the first round. I was watching him think he had won,” he wrote. Every round for him. ”
“He knows he didn't do enough to win the game,” Boralho said. “If you look at how many times he won all three rounds and landed a right straight, the hand he used to knock out every fighter during his career, only four of those he threw in the entire fight. I think it's just the times. He didn't act to win the fight.
“Whitaker was using his experience to score, score, score, touch, touch, because Whittaker seemed to be out of rhythm.” [in his career]. Whittaker is declining and not growing like he once did. I feel like Whittaker is fading, but in my opinion he won with experience, scored in the third round and clearly won the fight. ”
Costa is scheduled to return to action on June 1st at UFC 302 to face former 185-pound champion Sean Strickland. Boralho will next draw with Paul Craig at UFC 301, which will take place on May 4 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
