Costa revealed on Wednesday that he wouldn't be able to make the 186-pound weight limit. So the UFC negotiated with Vettori's team and it was settled on a 195-pound catchweight and that the Italian would receive 20 percent of Costa's purse. Then in a shocking twist on late Thursday night, the fight was switched to a 206-pound affair.
Costa returns for the first time since getting thrashed by current middleweight champion Israel Adesanya to lose by second-round TKO at UFC 253 in September 2020. The excuses came far and wide for Costa after suffering the first defeat on his pro resume. The most notable one was saying he got drunk by drinking wine the night before UFC 253.
Like Costa, Vettori also fell short in quest to unseat Adesanya, getting dominated from start-to-finish at UFC 263 via unanimous decision to see his five-fight winning streak snapped.
The winner puts himself in a good position to square off against the winner of Adesanya-Robert Whittaker, which is expected to occur in early 2022.
Here is everything you need to know about UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori.
UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori date, start time
Date: Saturday, Oct. 23
Main card: 4 p.m. ET/ 9 p.m. BST
Main event ringwalks (approx): 6:30 p.m. ET/12:30 a.m. BST
The Costa vs. Vettori main card begins at 4 p.m. ET in the United States and at 9 p.m. BST in the United Kingdom. Costa and Vettori are expected to make their cage walks at around 6:30 p.m. ET/12:30 a.m. BST, although that depends on the length of the undercard bouts.
What channel/stream is Costa vs. Vettori?
U.S.: ESPN+
UK: BT Sport
Costa vs. Vettori main card will be airing on ESPN+ in the United States and their UK counterparts BT Sport delivering the coverage to British fight fans.
Where is the Costa vs. Vettori fight?
The Costa vs. Vettori fight card takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Paulo Costa record and bio
Nationality: Brazilian
Born: April 21, 1991
Height: 6-0
Reach: 72 inches
Total Fights: 14
Record: 13-1
Marvin Vettori record and bio
Nationality: Italian
Born: September 20, 1993
Height: 6-0
Reach: 74 inches
Total Fights: 23
Record: 17-5-1
UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori fight card
Main Card
- Paulo Costa vs. Marvin Vettori; Light Heavyweight
- Grant Dawson vs. Rick Glenn; Lightweight
- Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Joselyne Edwards; Women's Bantamweight
- Alex Caceres vs. Seung Woo Choi; Featherweight
- Dwight Grant vs. Francisco Trinaldo; Welterweight
- Nicolae Negumereanu vs. Ike Villanueva; Light Heavyweight