5 possible opponents for Anderson Silva's UFC return

#3: Paulo Costa

Paulo Costa could be the UFC's next great Brazilian Middleweight

Ever since Chris Weidman knocked Silva off his perch at the top of the Middleweight division in 2013, the UFC hasn’t really had a top Brazilian fighter at 185lbs. Sure, Jacare Souza has come close at times but he’s always fallen at the final hurdle in his biggest fights – losses to Yoel Romero, Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum have put an end to his title hopes and he’s now 38 years old.

That means that Brazilian hopes at Middleweight now fall on the broad shoulders of one man – Paulo ‘The Eraser’ Costa. The TUF Brazil veteran has been absolutely unstoppable since debuting in the UFC proper in early 2017, tearing through four opponents – including former UFC champ Johny Hendricks – and finishing them all by KO or TKO.

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That’s why the UFC could look to book Silva – the returning, ageing gunslinger – against the up-and-comer for his return fight. Sure, it wouldn’t make a lot of sense from Silva’s perspective but the UFC has always used ageing fighters to build their newer stars – witness Royce Gracie vs. Matt Hughes or Yair Rodriguez vs. BJ Penn, for instance. And if Costa were to win – which would be expected – the torch would clearly be passed from one great Brazilian Middleweight to a potential great of the future.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Johny Payne