Miami, Florida – Following a dominant third-round knockout win at UFC 327 on Saturday, April 11, 2026, Brazilian fighter Paulo Costa received an unexpected compliment from former President Donald Trump, who was seated cageside. Trump told Costa he was "too good looking to be a fighter," adding a light-hearted moment to the intense atmosphere of the event.
The interaction occurred after Costa's victory over Azamat Murzakanov in the co-main event at the Kaseya Center. Costa, making a successful move to the light-heavyweight division, approached Trump for a handshake, leading to a brief conversation captured on video and widely shared across social media platforms.
During the exchange, Trump was heard telling the 34-year-old fighter, "You’re a beautiful guy. You could be a model, you look so good." He further added, "You’re too good looking to be a fighter. You are some fighter. Thank you, man." Costa, in turn, thanked Trump for "what he is doing," though specific details of this were not disclosed.
At the post-fight press conference, Costa confirmed the comments, stating, "Yes that part was true. That was funny. Thank you Mr. Trump." He also mentioned that some parts of their conversation were personal and would remain private. Trump later amplified the interaction by sharing a clip on Truth Social, congratulating Costa on his "Great UFC Fight."
Donald Trump is a known supporter of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, frequently attending major events and interacting with fighters. For Costa, the win marked a significant step in his career, re-establishing him as a contender in the light-heavyweight division after a period of mixed results at middleweight.
