SUMMARY
- Robert Whittaker will be fighting against Paulo Costa in the co-main event at UFC 298.
- Whittaker last fought against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 290.
The UFC 298 card is set to take place on February 17, 2024, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, United States. It features an array of elite talents from different divisions, offering a lot of expectations to the fight fans. The co-main event of the evening would be veteran and former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker taking on one of the hardest punchers in the game, Paulo Costa.
The main card is set to begin at 10 p.m. ET. Whittaker last stepped in the octagon against the current champion, Dricus du Plessis, at the UFC 290, losing via 2nd round TKO. The UFC veteran always puts on a show for the spectators, winning the second-most post-fight bonuses in UFC middleweight division history. He currently holds a professional MMA record of 24 wins and 7 losses.
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His opponent, Paulo Costa, has had a tough time recently in his career, having to cancel three of his last scheduled bouts. Costa last faced former champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 278, winning via decision. Although the middleweight won the bout, many questioned his performance based on not being able to dominate an out-of-breath Rockhold.
UFC 298: Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa stats
Stats | Robert Whittaker | Paulo Costa |
Wins | 25 | 14 |
Losses | 7 | 2 |
Height | 6 ft 0 in | 6 ft 1 in |
Division | Middleweight | Middleweight |
Reach | 73 in | 72 in |
Age | 33 | 32 |
Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa: Fight breakdown and prediction
Looking into the UFC stats, Robert Whittaker holds an average of significant strikes landing at 4.47 with 3.39 strikes absorbed. Paulo Costa, on the other hand, has a striking average of 6.50, with 6.38 strikes absorbed. Although the 32-year-old holds a higher striking average, the amount of damage he takes is also a cause for concern. Both UFC fighters are prolific strikers, so the fans can expect the fight to be more intense.
Even if takedowns are considered, Robert Whittaker holds a takedown average of 0.85 with an 83% takedown defense. Costa, on the other hand, holds a 0.53 takedown average with a 79% defense. Both fighters have won the majority of their fights via KO/TKO, with Whittaker having 10 and Paulo at 11. In his last five fights, Robert has won three, all by decision.
Costa has also won three of his last five bouts, two by decision and one by TKO. He last competed in mid-2022 and has since been out of action due to various reasons, including health issues. The middleweight also faced weight-cut issues and hasn’t been able to perform as per his previous standards. In his last three fights, he lost twice in dominant fashion and seemed out of touch in his last.
Due to his lack of exposure and based on past performances, his opponent, Robert Whittaker, would be a favorite to win the fight. Also taking into consideration the level of experience and exposure the former champion possesses. Fans can expect a striking battle between the two middleweights, with a decision win for Whittaker.