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The UFC announced that middleweight contenders Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa are set to meet at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia.
UFC 284 will mark the UFC's first trip to Australia in over three years as the promotion has not held an event there since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Robert Whittaker headlined the UFC's last event in Australia, UFC 243, facing Israel Adesanya.
Despite entering as the champion and having the home crowd behind him, Whittaker was unable to defend his belt as Adesanya emerged victorious with a second-round knockout.
Whittaker is currently the No.1-ranked middleweight, defeating Marvin Vettori in his last fight. He has not lost to an opponent other than Adesanya, the current middleweight champion, since February 2014.
Paulo Costa will also enter UFC 284 coming off of a win. The No.6-ranked middleweight defeated Luke Rockhold by unanimous decision in the final fight of the former middleweight champion's career.
While Costa had previously angled for a fight against Khamzat Chimaev, he will instead face Whittaker in a fight that could determine the next middleweight title contender.
