Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa faced off in the co-main event at UFC 298.
The fight took place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Whittaker hadn’t fought since losing to the current champion Dricus Du Plessis last year, while Costa had been out of action since August 2022.
In the end, Whittaker emerged as the winner. He started strong by landing some leg kicks, while Costa attempted head kicks. Whittaker managed to connect with a stiff jab, causing a welt to form on Costa’s leg. Despite a spinning heel kick from Costa that momentarily rocked Whittaker, “The Reaper” maintained his composure.
As the fight progressed, Whittaker increased his pace while Costa slowed down. Although Costa remained dangerous, Whittaker did enough to secure a unanimous decision victory.
With this win, Whittaker’s professional MMA record stands at 25-7, solidifying his position as the number three middleweight fighter in the UFC rankings.
Despite the loss, Costa put up a strong performance against Whittaker. While this setback may delay his pursuit of a UFC title, Costa is expected to face another tough opponent in his next fight.
