Donald Trump-backed UFC star seeks release to join Jake Paul’s MVP MMA

Paulo Costa/ Image: Instagram Costa publicly outlined three possible routes for his next fight The Netflix option appears to interest Costa the most MVP MMA’s first event has already started attracting UFC attention Paulo Costa has openly discussed the possibility of leaving the UFC after revealing three very different options for his next fight, including a Netfli backed showdown against Mike Perry under Most Valuable Promotions, trailing Jake Paul’s massive debut.Costa made the comments on social media only weeks after returning to the spotlight with a stoppage victory over Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 in Miami, the same night he briefly went viral after US president Donald Trump jokingly told him he was “too good-looking to be a fighter.”The win over Murzakanov was significant beyond the headlines. Competing at light heavyweight, Costa handed the previously unbeaten Russian the first loss of his professional career with a third-round TKO, pushing himself into the UFC light heavyweight top 10 while still remaining ranked No. 14 at middleweight.Costa revealed his current thinking in a post on X, where he openly listed the three possibilities he believes are now on the table inside the UFC.“I have 3 options right now at ufc: 1. Fight for 185 belt - Strickland rematch 2.fight at heavyweight weight Hokit 3. Ask for ufc release me of my last fight contract and go face Mike ‘The Platinum’ Perry at Netflix.”The first option would take him back down to middleweight for a rematch against reigning UFC champion Sean Strickland, who regained the title after defeating Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 in Newark.The second would involve another move upward in weight, this time all the way to heavyweight for a fight against Josh Hokit.Costa has already been pushing hard for that matchup since UFC 327.After Hokit defeated Curtis Blaydes and secured a booking against Derrick Lewis for UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, Costa immediately suggested the UFC should replace Lewis with him instead.The White House event, scheduled for June 14 on the South Lawn, has already become one of the most talked-about cards in UFC history because of its political symbolism, military-heavy crowd and direct involvement from Trump.Costa clearly sees himself fitting into that environment after the attention generated by his Miami appearance alongside the former president.The third option involved Costa asking the UFC to release him from the final fight on his contract so he could fight Perry on Netflix through Jake Paul’s MVP MMA project.Costa later made it clear that the Perry fight is currently his preferred direction.“You did great Saturday night Mike. We’re proud of you! Enjoy it!!” Costa wrote after Perry defeated Nate Diaz via doctor’s stoppage at MVP MMA 1.He later added that Perry is his “favorite match right now.”Costa also posted another message hinting at how broadly he is now viewing his future.“From welterweight to heavyweight, from UFC to Netflix. Nobody is safe.”Costa’s comments come shortly after Jake Paul’s MVP MMA launched its first major event, MVP MMA 1, at California’s Intuit Dome in a direct attempt to rival the UFC. The Netfli streamed card was headlined by the long-awaited MMA return and crossover fight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, with Rousey securing a submission victory in roughly 15 seconds before immediately retiring again.The same event also saw Francis Ngannou return to MMA competition, while Perry defeated Diaz in the co-main event after badly cutting him with elbows.Reports surrounding the event suggested Netflix viewership peaked at around 17 million viewers, with the live gate reportedly reaching approximately 2.2 million dollars.Costa publicly praised both the show and Jake Paul afterward.“Great job,” Costa wrote in response to Paul’s post discussing the event’s success.He later added: “I’m excited to see the official fighters payout.”The Brazilian is not the only major fighter openly discussing life outside the UFC either.Recently retired heavyweight champion Jon Jones also suggested he would like to secure a UFC release in order to potentially face Ngannou following the Cameroonian’s return under the MVP banner.Whether the UFC would seriously entertain Costa’s request remains unclear, especially given how difficult it usually is for contracted fighters to negotiate exits, while his growing fame, fan appeal and increasing value to the promotion itself could give the UFC even more reason to resist letting him leave.Still, Costa openly discussing Netflix, MVP MMA and a possible release request only weeks after rebuilding momentum inside the UFC shows how quickly the MMA landscape is beginning to shift.