Paulo Costa vs. Marvin Vettori Targeted to Headline UFC Card on Oct. 23

A middleweight showdown between Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori is in the works to serve as the main event for a UFC Fight Night card on Oct. 23.

UFC broadcast partner ESPN was first to report the booking. The event does not yet have a location, and definitive broadcast plans have not been revealed. Vettori targeted the matchup against “drunk guy” Costa following a loss to Israel Adesanya in a middleweight title bout at UFC 263, and the Brazilian responded by mocking a photo of “The Italian Dream.”

The unanimous decision loss to Adesanya on June 12 snapped a five-bout winning streak for Vettori. The Kings MMA product established himself as a contender with key victories over the likes of Kevin Holland, Jack Hermansson and Karl Roberson over the course of the past year after beginning his promotional tenure with wins in just two of his first five appearances.

Costa, meanwhile, began his MMA career with 13 consecutive triumphs —including five in the UFC — before falling to Adesanya via second-round TKO at UFC 253 last September. “Borrachinha” was scheduled to face Jared Cannonier in August but ultimately refused to sign the contract for the fight, citing frustration with his pay.