Paulo Costa has remained one of the perennial mainstays of the middleweight division. His language barrier adds to the charm. However, most of all, he is infamous as the only “Secret Juice” endorser of the promotion. Recently, he sat down with Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson to discuss the famous supplement.
Paulo Costa meets Sean Strickland at UFC 302. Ahead of the bout, he did a podcast to promote his outing. He joined Jackson and co-host Bear Degidio on the JAXXON Podcast. Jackson is an ex-UFC light heavyweight heavyweight champion and a legend of the sport. Hence, he knows the rigors of weight cuts at such a bulk. It led to Costa mentioning the “Secret Juice” helping out his cuts.
I have a big head as well, so…it’s not so – you know, funny to get on 85…so I start to to to mix some ingredients in the beverage to drink to help me cut weight…I just look [for] which kind of foods and ingredients can I mix…I start to try test and see what made my body feel better…I have ginger, lemon, from Brazil…put some tamarind inside…
Paulo Costa via the JAXXON podcast
Quinton Jackson had a hilarious reply.
See, I’m glad you told me, cuz this whole time he [Bear Degidio] thought your secret juice was made in the needle…he crazy…
Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson via the ‘JAXXON’ podcast with Bear Degidio
The former UFC 185-pound title contender rebounded from a viral weight miss and snapped his two-loss streak. Costa even won the “Fight of the Night” performance opposite ex-middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. At the UFC 278 official weigh-ins, he flaunted his “Secret Juice,” boldly written on his travel bottle. He did it yet again at the post-fight victory presser.
The conversation also sees him mistakenly dislodge his pod-mic. Consequently, “Secret Juice” has always been presumptuous fan rhetoric of using PEDs. A self-proclaimed Meme God and funnyman of the 185-pound weight class, Costa has accordingly long maintained this narrative.
Paulo Costa says UFC’s insistence on Khamzat Chimaev delayed his return
Middleweight Paulo Costa got together with Quinton Jackson and Bear Degidio to divulge secrets about his “Secret Juice.” Other than that, he also weighed in on his future fight with Sean Strickland and his irregular fight schedules on the podcast.
Khamzat Chimaev and Paulo Costa (via Instagram)Costa became irregular in fighting after losing the middleweight title fight against Israel Adesanya in 2020. He fought only once in 2021 and 2022 and didn’t compete in 2023. Costa explained why there was a gap after his 2022 fight against Luke Rockhold.
If you guys remember, um after fight uh Luke [Rockhold]…after we fought…I was ready to fight
again, you know, like uh we fought in August and in [ I was ready] November. I was asked for… just let the UFC know I was ready to to get on the fight right on the way and they say we have a a good fight. A big fight! Chimaev…in Abu Dhabi…I said ‘Come on, like 10 months?’ …they say that’s it we cannot bring him over [sooner]…then the infection happened.
Paulo Costa via the ‘JAXXON’ podcast with Bear Degidio
Costa fought Rockhold at UFC 278. After that, he was only booked at UFC 294 to have the grudge bout with Khamzat Chimaev. Ultimately, the bout did not happen due to Costa’s staph infection. As a result, the Brazilian has chosen to stay active in 2024. He fought Robert Whittaker in a losing effort and quickly returned to training camp to fight Sean Strickland just three months later.
