Paulo Costa explains how "tough" matchups like Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland push him

Paulo Costa recently opened up on why he prefers to fight tough rivals like Sean Strickland or Khamzat Chimaev. The Brazilian UFC middleweight implied that high-caliber rivals provide him with motivation.

Costa fought Sean Strickland in his last appearance at UFC 302, enduring a split-decision loss. This was his second continuous defeat, with the first coming via unanimous decision against Robert Whittaker at UFC 298.

During his appearance on Jake Shields's YouTube channel, the host questioned Costa about why he prefers fighting tougher rivals when he can earn a paycheque of a similar amount by fighting easier rivals. The 33-year-old replied:

"I always want to fight the most tough guys. But... I just worry, if I start to think in that way [look for easier fights], [then] I will be more lazy."

Check out Paulo Costa's comments below (15:40):

Paulo Costa could have got into a fight with Khamzat Chimaev outside the octagon as well

During his aforementioned appearance, Paulo Costa and Jake Shields also spent time talking about Khamzat Chimaev. The Brazilian counted him as a tough in-octagon rival, but Shields recalled an incident when the Costa vs. Chimaev fight could've happened outside the octagon.

Shields said when he was training with Costa at the UFC PI, Chimaev appeared with a 10-man entourage and tried to confront Costa. However, he also detailed that the bicker was primarily a publicity stunt from Chimaev:

"I came [to the PI] to meet you and it's like, alright I gotta back you up. I liked you. I mean, I'm not gonna let 10 guys try to bully you. But it was kind of fake anyways. Because Chimaev waited over there in the corner... He waited for the video cameras to come in and then he runs over and was like, 'Let's fight'... If he wanted to fight you, he would've ran in. It was all for show."

Check out Jake Shields's comments below (9:10)