“Mexican doesn’t fight backwards” – Paulo Costa’s lackluster performance catches stray from featherweight phenom

Mexico has provided superstars to combat sports, especially boxing. In MMA, fighters like Brandon Moreno, Yair Rodrigues, and Alexa Grasso have become champions. Paulo Costa recently claimed to be a Mexican before his fight against Sean Strickland at UFC 302. However, his performance didn’t warrant the claim, according to Diego Lopes, the rising phenom at featherweight.

Diego Lopes is a Brazilian fighter representing his birth nation and adopted nation of Mexico in his fights. Renato Moicano had stated Lopes spoke more Spanish than Portuguese, the mother tongue of most Brazilians. As an adopted Mexican, Lopes felt disappointment in the performance of Costa at UFC 302, evidenced by his latest tweet.

Paulo Costa said he was Mexican or if he felt Mexican. Just to remind you that a Mexican doesn’t fight by walking backwards.
Diego Lopes via X

Due to Paulo Costa’s explosiveness and Sean Strickland’s pressure, fight fans expected a Fight of the Night performance at the UFC 302 co-main event. However, in a boring fight, Strickland won via a controversial split decision. One judge scored the fight 49-45 for Costa, shocking the MMA community.

Lopes’ criticism is valid, particularly as he has never backpedaled in his fight. After he lost his UFC debut to Movsar Evloev in a close matchup on short notice, Lopes finished his next three opponents in the first round of the fight. Due to his exciting fighting style, Lopes was on UFC 300, where he TKOed Sodiq Yusuff.

Diego Lopes praises Dustin Poirier for impressive fight at UFC 302

Dustin Poirier didn’t have a great ending to his career at UFC 302. However, he fought tooth and nail against the pound-for-pound king Islam Makahchev. Even though he lost via fifth-round submission, Poirier earned the admiration of his colleagues. Poirier showed tremendous improvements in anti-wrestling and anti-grappling in the fight, surprising many.

Diego Lopes praised Dustin Poirier (Image via: IMAGO, Instagram)

From his X feed, it was evident that Dustin Poirier’s performance impressed rising sensation Diego Lopes. The featherweight was critical of Paulo Costa, the loser of the main event. However, Lopes reposted an X tweet from the popular Full Violence handle that praised the “Diamond” from Lafayette, Louisiana.